Despite conflicting signals emanating from the Samajwadi Party, speculation is rife about the possibility of SP national president contesting elections from Azamgarh besides Mainpuri from where he is a sitting MP Senior party leader Shivpal Singh Yadav did not rule out this possibility but said there is no plan yet to field Mulayam Singh Yadav from Azamgarh.
“This matter is not discussed in that way,” he told reporters here on Wednesday. But party’s national general secretary Naresh Agarwal told The Pioneer that Yadav might contest from Azamgarh. “There is a demand from the party workers to field Netaji from Azamgarh and his contesting election from there cannot be ruled out,” he said. Azamgarh, a crucial district in eastern Uttar Pradesh has seen emergence of Muslim politics post Batla shoot-out in New Delhi. The Muslims of that area are led by local clerics, formed Rashtriya Ulema Council which contested last Assembly elections. With SP losing favour with Muslims, post-Muzaffarnagar riots, it is believed that if Mulayam contests from Azamgarh he may be able to win their confidence back.