Samajwadi Party veteran Azam Khan met party president Akhilesh Yadav in Lucknow on Friday, describing the meeting as a symbolic gesture of resilience and a call for justice and political change in Uttar Pradesh.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Khan said, “The real intent of our meeting was to show that despite the oppression and historic injustice we faced, there still exist people whose endurance is stronger than stone or mountain.”

Accompanied by his son and former MLA Abdullah Azam, Khan noted that many of their supporters were still imprisoned. “When we meet, we remind each other of those painful times so that future generations remember that such injustice once took place,” he said.

Azam Khan recalls ‘injustice’ and misuse of agencies

Recently released after nearly two years in jail on multiple charges, including land grabbing and intimidation, Khan expressed gratitude to the media for what he termed a “change of perception.”

“Those who once misunderstood me now seem to realise that great injustice was done to us,” he remarked. He also recounted the Income Tax raids at his residence and Rampur’s Jauhar University, saying officials “used words that could make any decent person bow his head in shame.”

Khan urged for an end to the misuse of investigative agencies and said, “Until the political system improves and people understand what is truly happening, injustice will continue. But I sense change. Those who once opposed me now come to meet me, embrace me, and weep. That is a sign of transformation.”

Rejecting rumours that the Lucknow visit was linked to legal matters, Khan clarified, “There is no other reason. I came to meet Akhilesh Yadav and to send a message through you that we stand for change.”

A renewed bond within the Samajwadi Party

This meeting marks the second significant interaction between the two leaders in a month. On October 8, Akhilesh Yadav had visited Rampur, calling Khan a “strong pillar” of the Samajwadi Party and assuring that a future SP government would withdraw all false cases against him.

Azam Khan, a founding member of the Samajwadi Party and one of its senior-most leaders, has been a close aide of the late Mulayam Singh Yadav. Despite past speculation about a rift, Khan has consistently rejected any possibility of leaving the party.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded the people of Bihar for turning out in record numbers during the first phase of assembly elections, calling it a clear reflection of their faith in the BJP-led NDA government at both state and central levels. Speaking at a rally in Aurangabad, he highlighted the 64.66% voter turnout as the highest ever since Independence.

Bihar’s trust in double-engine growth, says PM

Addressing a massive gathering, PM Modi said, “People of Bihar have broken all records. Close to 65% of voting took place in the first phase. This shows that the youth, farmers, and women of Bihar are coming forward to bless the BJP-led NDA.”
He praised Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s leadership for transforming the state and freeing regions like Aurangabad from years of Naxal violence. “This region was long afflicted with Maoist terror. After ‘Sushashan’ came under Nitish Kumar, the fear vanished, and people began to live freely again,” he added.

‘Fake promises’ warning to voters

The Prime Minister also cautioned voters against “fake promises” made by the opposition Mahagathbandhan, remarking that their return would mean “the comeback of katta sarkar.” He reminded the crowd of the BJP government’s record in fulfilling promises—from the construction of the Ram Mandir and abrogation of Article 370 to implementing the One Rank One Pension scheme for the armed forces.
PM Modi also referred to his past vow to avenge terror attacks, stating, “Didn’t our forces punish the perpetrators of Pahalgam attacks? Didn’t they retaliate against their wicked designs?”

Jan Suraaj Party founder Prashant Kishor on Friday described migrant workers from Bihar, who returned home for the Chhath festivities and have not yet gone back to their workplaces, as the “X factor” in the ongoing assembly elections.

Kishor made the remark a day after the state recorded a historic 64.66% voter turnout in the first phase of polling, calling it proof of a deep public desire for change. “The highest voter turnout since Independence confirms what we have always been saying — there is a very strong yearning for change in Bihar where the people have been caught in a political rut for about 30 years,” he said.

He asserted that his one-year-old party, Jan Suraaj, has given people new hope as a credible alternative to the existing political setup.

Criticising the ruling NDA, Kishor said, “These people thought they could win by offering doles to women. Yes, women turned up in large numbers, but it is the migrants who are the X factor in this election.”

According to him, migrant voters who came home for Chhath have stayed back and are motivating their families to participate in the polls. “Having returned home for the festivities, they have stayed back and are encouraging their family members to go out and vote. Their impact is something to watch out for,” he added.