UP Elections 2017: Azam Khan shows son's seat the money; as minister released Rs 156 crore for Suar-Tanda

Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan is a busy man. But despite being involved in the thick of UP politics, Khan is taking time out for one person—his son.

Making his entry into politics Abdullah Azam, 26, is contesting from the tiny constituency of Suar-Tanda in Rampur district in western UP, for which his father is getting involved. Indeed, it is interesting to note that as state Minister of Urban Development, Khan released Rs 156 crore for a constituency that has barely two lakh people over a span of six months. Not only that, an estimated Rs 67 crore was spent on a 27-kilometre stretch road, which is the main road in the constituency.

The potholed road—renovated just three months ago—is situated right in the centre of the town and it is crucial not just for locals but also for people travelling to Uttarakhand from Delhi and vice-versa.

This release of funds by Khan is all the more interesting as Suar-Tanda till then was a neglected constituency. But victory will still not be easy for the junior Azam, as he is up against Nawab Kazim Ali Khan alias Naved Mian, the present titular Nawab of the Rampur royal family.

A four-time MLA for the Bahujan Samaj Party, Khan, who remained undefeated for the last 15 years, is expected to give the junior Azam a tough fight. In fact, local SP leaders admitted candidly that if Abdullah is to win, it will all be due to Azam Khan's efforts.

Despite repeated efforts by DNA, neither Abdullah nor Azam Khan were available for comment.

Whatever Azam Khan's motive may be, the residents of Suar-Tanda are certainly not complaining. Smooth roads, clean drains, new street lights, boundary walls and schools have come up in this town, which once looked like a relic from the 1980s. Now another Rs 125 crore is in the pipeline for the development of the constituency, courtesy Azam Khan.

A new school, a new hospital, and a 50,000-capacity stadium have reportedly being promised to the residents of this constituency. All of this, Azam Khan hopes will help his son when this constituency goes to the polls on February 15.

There are other reasons too as to why the 68-year-old Khan is so eager to see his son succeed. Political observers and party insiders say Khan is suffering various medical problems and is desperate to see his son carry on the family's political legacy and he sees his constituency Tanda-Suar as the key. This is evident from the list of inaugurations that Khan has made. From hospitals to housing societies for underprivileged people, Azam has been inaugurating almost everything in the constituency.

Other parties such as the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) and BJP are contesting in this Muslim dominated constituency but locals say the battle is between the SP and BSP. A brief chat with some of them indicates that they will give the vote to the SP. As 63-year-old Khairun Nisa said, "The development that Suar-Tanda has seen in last months is unique. Azam Khan has done what Nawab sahab didn't do in the last 15 years."

Nisa's words can be seen in the newly relaid lanes and bylanes in Tanda. Open drains, filthy lanes and by-lanes have been replaced to a great extent by closed drains, new drains and new lanes. In terms of hygiene, they could easily beat many other parts of the country, especially the national Capital. And the reason for that is not surprising.

In the second half of 2016, the Uttar Pradesh's SP government sanctioned over Rs 30 crore just to Tanda for these works under Adarsh Nagar Yojana, Nagri Sadak Sudhar Yojana.

This was just for Tanda. Suar, which is a separate tehsil got over Rs 57 crores in two months (September-October) under various state government schemes like Adarsh Nagar Yojana, Nagriya Jal Nikas Yojana, Nagriya Jheel Sarakshan Yojana, Nagriya Sadak Sudhar Yojana, Nagar Savera Yojana etc. From Eidgah to hospitals, almost everything is being renovated in Suar.

It's with the promise of development that the young Khan is riding confident of victory. Because he not only has his father's hand but that of UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav as well. In a recently rally in Suar-Tanda Akhilesh told locals. "If he (Abdullah) wins, I will adopt this constituency as my own."       

Despite such star backing, Abdullah is taking nothing for granted. An M-tech degree holder, he is busy campaigning all day, sometimes along with his father, reminding locals of his father's work on roads and development here. Abdullah is also quick to point out that they have done this while the local MLA "has all this while been busy in London."

Local resident Habibullah Ahmed believes that it will be a one-sided election in favour of the SP. "Change is what this constituency needed and Azam Khan has brought it about. Everybody will vote for him," he said.