Rift in SP? Azam Khan calling shots from jail but Akhilesh Yadav not playing ball

File: Azam Khan (L) and Akhilesh Yadav

All's not well between Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and jailed leader Azam Khan? According to reports, there is a growing strife between the two leaders over SP's Lok Sabha picks for Rampur and Moradabad constituencies.

Azam Khan, who is currently lodged in Sitapur jail, wanted sitting MP ST Hasan to be dropped from Moradabad. He also wanted Akhilesh Yadav to fight from Rampur, a seat wrested by BJP after Khan's disqualification following his conviction in a 2019 case.

He conveyed this to Akhilesh when the SP chief visited Khan in jail.

However, the SP snubbed Khan's request and fielded Hasan from Moradabad again. Sources said that Khan was miffed over the decision, prompting SP to replace Hasan with Ruchi Veera, who is a close confidante of the former Rampur MP.

Moreover, Akhilesh has also declined Khan's request to contest from Rampur with the party fielding Imam Mohibullah Nadvi from the constituency.

Nadvi was picked even over Asim Raza, another close aide of Azam Khan.

Sources close to Khan told News18 that it's always the former Rampur MP who decides the candidate from the constituency.

Interestingly, Raza has also filed his nomination from Rampur along with Nadvi. The local SP unit, including the sitting MLA, have refused to campaign for SP in the polls.