Lucknow: Speaking to reporters at his official residence in Lucknow on Tuesday, Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Azam Khan said, “It is Kapil Sibal’s ‘right’ to be nominated to the Rajya Sabha and it is an honor for any political party to do so. Will be.” on 24 May.
Khan’s remarks came amid speculation in Lucknow’s political circles that the SP is considering nominating Sibal to the Rajya Sabha. Sibal, who is among the members of the Congress demanding leadership reform and accountability, is believed to have stayed away from the party since then. His Rajya Sabha term ends in July.
On May 20, Khan was released on interim bail from Sitapur Jail in Uttar Pradesh, where he served 27 months in several cases, including alleged land-grabbing. Sibal is Khan’s lawyer in the Supreme Court.
,[Sibal] Such a senior personality, he is a very big person and very nice. I would be most happy if he is [nominated]”Khan said.
ThePrint reached out to Sibal over the phone, but the Congressman declined to comment.
However, a senior SP leader told ThePrint on condition of anonymity that Sibal’s name was in fact on the list of names being discussed for nomination in the Upper House of Parliament.
In 2016, Sibal was elected to the Rajya Sabha from Uttar Pradesh as a Congress candidate with the support of the SP. Though the Congress is now left with only 2 MLAs in the state, it is not in a position to choose anyone from UP, where 11 Rajya Sabha seats will fall vacant soon.
BJP can win seven seats with its majority, while SP can win three seats. If the former fielded an eighth candidate, an election would be necessary.
Asked for a comment, SP chief spokesperson Rajendra Choudhary told ThePrint that the real picture would be clear “by tomorrow” (May 25).
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change in attitude
Azam’s ties with his party have not been strong.
Before his release from prison, Khan’s aides had publicly expressed their anger towards the SP with the leader’s spokesperson Fasahat Ali Khan, Saying That SP President Akhilesh Yadav met Azam Khan only once in jail and the party did not make any effort for his release in the last two and a half years.
Azam Khan had also refused to meet an SP delegation led by party MLA Ravidas Mehrotra when he attempted to meet him in Sitapur jail, but met Akhilesh Yadav’s uncle Shivpal Yadav – with whom the former CM is said about. share a strained relationship – and Congress leader Pramod Krishnam.
According to Chaudhary, however, the reports of Azam Khan’s anger towards the SP leadership are due to the media. “Nothing like that. Media persons keep asking such things and this is their creation.
Khan has denied that Sibal’s possible nomination could be an attempt by the SP to pacify him. “No, no. I, a sick, weak person, the No. 1 mafia of the country, against whom hundreds and thousands of cases are registered, are in no position to be angry with them,” he told reporters.
He also opened up about Shivpal Yadav and his relationship with the SP. “I’ve talked to him” [Shivpal] Will meet him earlier, and in future also. And why only that? I can meet anyone. Till now my whole life I had drawn a line, never looked at any other boat (political organization), let alone climb it.
“But I realized that salute-dua (Hello) should be exchanged with all. If tea-destroyed (meeting over meal) happens, there should be no problem. If the leaders of all political parties have the right to meet everyone, then take some tea-destroyed, go to wedding ceremonies and visit each other in good and bad times, so can I. I am also a human being like him.”
Asked if he would really “see the other boat”, he said, “First, some suitable kayak comes in front, now where is my coffee (Let a suitable boat come, so far my own ship is enough).
(Edited by Jinnia Ray Chowdhury)
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