UP Elections: New Muslim leaders help SP brace for polls

Induction of outstanding Muslim leaders from the BSP and Congress over the past yr is more likely to strengthen Samajwadi Get together’s Muslim management, at the same time as its veteran chief Azam Khan stays inactive attributable to jail time and poor well being and Asaduddin Owaisi’s entry into the fray in Uttar Pradesh raises recent challenges.

Among the many tall Muslim leaders who joined the SP in latest months embrace Salim Iqbal Sherwani from the Congress — a five-time MP and pal of Rajiv Gandhi. Sherwani, 68, had joined the SP within the wake of the Babri Masjid demolition, however returned to the Congress in 2009 when the SP selected Dharmendra Yadav, a nephew of Mulayam Singh Yadav, over him for a celebration ticket.

Sherwani is already being made to share the stage with occasion chief Akhilesh Yadav in lots of essential programmes held by the SP, together with the kisan mahapanchayat that was held in Aligarh in March, in a robust message to the Muslim group.

Extra lately, the SP has welcomed Sibgatullah Ansari, the eldest of the Ansari brothers and a former BSP MLA from Mohammadabad in Ghazipur, and his son into the occasion. The Ansaris, who additionally embrace BSP MP Afzal Ansari in addition to (the now ex-BSP MLA) Mukhtar Ansari, wield appreciable clout over Muslims within the Purvanchal districts of Ghazipur and Mau, and surrounding areas.

Different Muslim leaders with sturdy affect of their respective districts who joined the SP embrace former BSP MP from Sitapur Kaiser Jahan.