Out of jail, Azam Khan says his own people have a role in his destruction 

Estranged uncle of SP president Akhilesh Yadav, Shivpal Yadav, was physically present to greet him

On Friday, as senior Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Mohammad Azam Khan was released from a jail in Sitapur after spending 27 months there, what stood out was that his former colleague and estranged uncle of party president Akhilesh Yadav, Shivpal Yadav, was physically present to greet him.

Mr. Akhilesh, who was in Lucknow attending a special session of the Assembly, welcomed Mr. Khan’s release with a tweet even as some second-line SP leaders were at the spot. “Lies last only for moments, not centuries,” he tweeted in reference to the dozens of alleged false cases lodged against Mr. Khan by the State government.

Ever since loyalists of Mr. Khan came out in public to accuse Mr. Akhilesh of not doing enough to support the incarcerated leader from Rampur, Mr. Shivpal increased overtures and indicated he was interested in building a new political alliance with Mr. Khan.

Where Mr. Khan, an SP MLA like his son Abdullah Azam, truly stands politically after two years in jail would be revealed after he settles down in his west U.P. borough Rampur, but by driving from Lucknow to Sitapur to welcome the Muslim leader, Mr. Shivpal, who has distanced himself from his nephew, showed his intent and got tongues wagging once again about new political possibilities.

“A new sun is rising on the horizon of Uttar Pradesh,” Mr. Shivpal tweeted as he informed his followers that he was headed to Sitapur to welcome Mr. Khan. Mr. Shivpal then shared pictures of him greeting Mr. Khan next to a car.

In one of the frames, Mr. Khan was seen with his hand placed on Mr. Shivpal’s chest in reciprocation of the Yadav leader’s friendly gesture.

In Rampur, Mr. Khan received a rapturous welcome and delivered an emotional speech on his “sufferings” in jail and political journey.