Akhilesh Yadav with SP MP ST Hasan.
– Photo: Social Media
Former cabinet minister Azam Khan, who is lodged in Sitapur jail, was successful in getting the ticket of sitting MP ST Hasan in Moradabad. Azam’s special interest Ruchi Veera will be the official candidate of SP there. But, the SP leadership did not listen to him in Rampur and fielded Mohibullah Nadvi. Nadvi is the Imam of Delhi’s Parliament Street Jama Masjid. He is originally from Rampur. At the same time, SP District President of Rampur Ajay Sagar says that Azam Khan has instructed us to contest the elections instead of Nadvi to Asim Raza. Asim Raza has also filed his nomination as an independent candidate on Tuesday.
There has been a rebellion like situation in SP after ST Hasan’s ticket was canceled from Moradabad. SP’s Rajya Sabha MP Javed Ali Khan has criticized the ticket being cut under the pressure of Azam Khan through gestures like ‘X’. He has written, “Even during the era of Nawabs, Moradabad was never under Rampur, but now it is!” His statement is being interpreted in the party. Clearly, a section in SP is unhappy with ST Hassan’s ticket being cut.
Asim Raza filled the form
Asim Raza, who had contested the last by-election in Rampur on SP ticket, also filed his nomination on Tuesday. Ajay Sagar says that local SP workers will contest the elections only against Asim Raza. Let us tell you here that Asim Raza was given ticket in the by-election only on the insistence of Azam. SP’s fielding of Nadvi from Rampur is being considered as a blow to Azam, because he is not Azam’s favorite.
expected to grow further
The rift between Cabinet Minister Azam Khan and SP President Akhilesh Yadav is expected to increase before SP fields Mohibullah Nadvi from Rampur Lok Sabha seat. However, SP has intensified efforts to start damage control. Sources say that soon SP General Secretary Shivpal Yadav will go to Sitapur jail to persuade Azam Khan. At the same time, the confusion regarding the candidate from Moradabad has been resolved. On this seat, sitting MP ST Hasan had filed nomination on Tuesday and former MLA Ruchi Veera had filed nomination with SP symbol on Wednesday. However, on Wednesday, ST Hasan cleared the way for Ruchi Veera by withdrawing her nomination.