Azam Khan's high-profile return to SP

Expelled Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan on Saturday rejoined the party amid much fanfare and melodrama at the SP state headquarters in Lucknow.

While SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav welcomed Khan with open arms, his younger brother Shiv Pal Yadav came forward with his resignation letter from the position of leader of opposition, offering it to Khan.

Khan took a look at the resignation letter with a smile but chose to tear it off in full view of everybody, saying, "I am not interested in any position. Shiv Pal Yadav will continue to remain the leader of the Opposition."

A visibly relieved Mulayam embraced Khan amidst reverberating cries of 'Azam Khan-Mulayam Singh Yadav zindabad' (long live Azam Khan and Mulayam Singh Yadav).

Khan was expelled from the party after Lok Sabha polls last year, following his differences with Mulayam over the latter's sudden bonhomie with expelled Bhartiya Janata Party leader Kalyan Singh.

 

Khan's repeated criticism of then powerful SP general secretary Amar Singh further accelerated

his exit from the party.

Known for his proximity to Mulayam right from the early days of the inception of Samajwadi Party, Khan had emerged as the Muslim face of the party.

Sure enough, his exit from the party dealt a severe blow to the Muslim support base, especially since it was followed by the party's increased proximity to Kalyan Singh.

Speaking on the occasion, Mulayam made it a point to emphasise the significance of Khan's presence in the party. "If you had been in the party fold, I am sure we would have got over a dozen seats more in the parliament elections," said Mulayam.

 

Khan responded, "Well, I believe that it is not just the count that matters at all times. One needs to stick to one's party ideology with which there should be no compromise."

Khan also took repeated digs at both Amar Singh as well as Kalyan, without taking their names.

Mulayam called upon partymen to give up factionalism and work towards reinforcing the Samajwadi Party at various levels throughout the state and prepare it for the next electoral battle -- the state assembly polls.