FREED, KHAN IS ON A POLITICAL HUNT

Azam's release from prison sets off a storm of speculation-suitors line up before the Muslim satrap, the SP watches edgily

- By Avaneesh Mishra

POWER DOES NOT VANISH in politics.

It only waits for the right moment to reclaim itself. That moment might have arrived for Azam Khan. In his case, that first axiom applies uniquely: it was not on account of any plunge in his popular stock that he went into oblivion.

He was put there by the law, maximally interpreted Now, after spending nearly two years in jail on multiple charges, Azam Khan is free, so is his instinct to play for centrality as the main Muslim face of the Samajwadi Party (SP). At least that's the script till now. Multiple futures and options seem open for him.

With no shortage of suitors, he has the chips to extract his bargains-in the SP or outside.

A founding member of the SP and a loyal Mulayam Singh Yadav lieutenant, the ten-time MLA from Rampur had a voice that carried beyond his constituency. Over the years, he was a state cabinet staple and his support base encompassed the 'PDA' rainbow in western UP.