Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav met senior party leader Azam Khan and his son Abdullah Azam Khan at Rampur District Jail on Thursday, October 22. The visit comes ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections and has drawn attention to the party’s political strategy in western UP. During his visit, Akhilesh also planned to meet Azam Khan’s family at their residence, including his wife, Tanzeen Fatima, and elder son, Adeeb. The SP chief arrived at Jauhar University before travelling to the jail, where he entered at around 1:42 pm, according to the information provided. The meeting is significant as Azam Khan remains one of the party’s prominent leaders despite his ongoing legal challenges. Akhilesh’s visit is also being viewed in the context of discussions over the party’s organisational unity and its preparations for the next Assembly elections.

Azam Khan and Abdullah Are in Jail in PAN Card Case
Azam Khan and his son Abdullah Azam are lodged in Rampur District Jail in connection with a dual PAN card case. A special MP-MLA court sentenced both to seven years in prison, according to the report. Azam Khan has challenged his sentence before the High Court and is awaiting relief. This is not the first meeting between the two leaders. Akhilesh previously visited Rampur in October 2025 to meet Azam Khan, while the senior leader later met the SP chief in Lucknow in November 2025. During an earlier interaction, Azam Khan reportedly said he wanted to share his experiences and difficulties. More recently, senior SP leader Shivpal Yadav also met Azam Khan and Abdullah in jail and visited their family. These interactions have kept attention on the relationship between Azam Khan and the party leadership.

2027 Elections Add Political Significance to the Meeting
Akhilesh Yadav’s visit comes amid renewed political discussions over the SP’s strategy in western Uttar Pradesh, where Azam Khan has long held influence. The meeting has attracted attention as parties begin preparing for the 2027 Assembly elections. Political observers are watching whether the interaction leads to a stronger show of unity within the SP and what role Azam Khan’s political influence may play in future decisions. Security arrangements were strengthened around the district jail, Azam Khan’s residence and the SP office ahead of the visit, with police teams deployed in the area. Congress MP Imran Masood also commented on the meeting, saying Akhilesh should meet Azam Khan, whom he described as a leader of his party. The broader political implications of the visit will become clearer as the election approaches and the parties finalise their strategies.