After a fortnight of intense speculation, Samajwadi Party president Mulayam Singh has revoked the expulsion of Mohammad Azam Khan from the party.
However, the Rampur MLA and former Minister seems to be in no hurry to return to the party. Mr. Khan says he will wait for the verdict of the five-member sub-committee of the Mushwarat Council, which is seized of the issue. He is a member of the council.
Mr. Khan told The Hindu that the sub-committee was authorised to take a decision — which was expected in 10 days — on Mr. Singh's offer.
Mr. Singh's decision was conveyed to Mr. Khan by party's national general secretary Ram Gopal Yadav through a letter on Wednesday.
The letter says, “I am delighted to convey to you that your expulsion has been revoked by party president Mulayam Singh. It is requested that you continue serving the party as before. I am hopeful that the cooperation of a big leader like you will strengthen the party further.”
Later, Professor Ram Gopal Yadav issued a press release stating that the party revoked Mr. Khan's expulsion, keeping in mind the “expectations of the party workers.”
Mr. Khan said he did not receive the letter and was not aware of the development.
Mr. Khan's return to the party after spending more than a year in political hibernation seemed imminent following the show cause notice issued to two Muslim MLAs Shahid Manzoor and Iqbal Mahmood by Professor Ram Gopal Yadav on Tuesday for making their dissent public. They were accused of violating party discipline. In fact, Professor Ram Gopal Yadav told The Hindu on Tuesday that the party president did not have to seek the MLAs' permission for taking a decision. The two had made remarks against Mr. Khan at the party's legislature meeting.
Describing Mr. Khan as a founder-member of the party and a comrade-in-arms, Mr. Singh had stated that he was willing to go to Rampur. Though Mr. Khan is yet to state categorically that he has accepted Mr. Singh's offer, informed sources say his return will be conditional.
