Archive · 4 Oct 2026
Jailed Samajwadi Leader Azam Khan Presses Akhilesh Over Candidates
Azam Khan is a Samajwadi Party leader from Rampur who is in jail.
He sent party leader Akhilesh Yadav a list of 15 people he thinks should run in next year’s elections.
His wife and son delivered the list to Akhilesh in Lucknow.
The suggested seats are in six districts of western Uttar Pradesh.
Some party members say Azam is important to the party’s strength in the region.
But it is not clear whether Akhilesh will follow his suggestions.
The article also says Azam faces many legal cases.
Investigators are checking money given to the trust that runs his university.
Azam Khan sent Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav a list of 15 suggested candidates for next year’s Assembly elections.
The list concerns constituencies in Rampur, Sambhal, Moradabad, Saharanpur, Meerut and Badaun.
Azam’s wife, Tazeen Fatima, and son Adeeb delivered the list during a meeting with Akhilesh in Lucknow.
A party leader said it was unclear whether Akhilesh would consult Azam, citing a previous disagreement over the Rampur Lok Sabha candidate.
Azam remains a major political influence in the region, while facing numerous cases and a money-laundering probe involving the trust that runs his university.
- Who
- Azam Khan sent the list to Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav; Tazeen Fatima and Adeeb Azam delivered it.
- What
- A list of 15 suggested Assembly election candidates was submitted.
- When
- The list was handed over on Wednesday; the elections are described as taking place next year.
- Where
- The suggestions cover constituencies in Rampur, Sambhal, Moradabad, Saharanpur, Meerut and Badaun, Uttar Pradesh.
- Why
- Azam wants Akhilesh to consult him before selecting candidates in the named constituencies.
Arguments for Azam’s influence
Concerns about his role
Candidate selection
Arguments for Azam’s influence
Azam wants Akhilesh to consult him on candidates, and district party president Ajay Sagar warned that the party could suffer if it ignores him.
Concerns about his role
A party leader questioned whether Akhilesh would consult Azam, noting that Akhilesh previously selected a Rampur candidate despite Azam’s objections.
Azam’s political conduct
Arguments for Azam’s influence
Political activist Tariq Khan described Azam as unafraid and pointed to his ability to make unilateral political decisions.
Concerns about his role
Tariq Khan also said Azam’s use of his university for politics was a problem; Hamza Mian criticized the university’s cost to students.
- Candidates proposed
- 15
- Party
- Samajwadi Party
- Party president
- Akhilesh Yadav
- Districts named
- Rampur, Sambhal, Moradabad, Saharanpur, Meerut and Badaun
- List delivered by
- Tazeen Fatima and Adeeb Azam
- Trust under investigation
- Mohammad Ali Jauhar Trust
- Buildings facing possible demolition
- A court will decide whether 38 of the university campus’s 40 buildings should be demolished.