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Senior leaders of Samajwadi Party (SP) have always been a big center in the politics of Uttar Pradesh. Azam Khan The difficulties are showing no sign of abating. Now Mohammad Ali Jauhar University, Rampur, which is called his dream project, is facing a big threat of bulldozer action.
In a major decision, Rampur Development Authority (RDA) has issued an order to demolish 38 buildings of Johar University. The authority claims that these 38 magnificent buildings have been constructed illegally without an approved map. According to RDA, there are only two buildings in the entire university – Academic Block and Medical Block – whose map is valid and as per rules.
The foundation was laid in 2006, old association with controversies
The foundation year of this university established by Mohammad Ali Jauhar Trust 2006 Was laid on a large scale. Gradually medical colleges, engineering, education, agriculture departments, a huge library, hostels and many other academic blocks were built here.
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Controversy from the beginning: Since its inception, this university has been surrounded by controversies regarding irregularities in land allotment, violation of lease rules, occupation of Waqf property and illegal construction permissions.
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Action intensified after 2017: After the BJP government came to power in Uttar Pradesh in 2017, the investigation and legal action against Johar University intensified. This matter reached from Allahabad High Court to the Supreme Court. now upcoming Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections of 2026-27 This order to demolish illegal construction just before 2017 has once again become the cause of huge political debate in the state.
Azam Khan has been MLA from Rampur 10 times and MP twice.
Azam Khan, who entered mainstream politics from student politics in the last years of the 70s, has been considered the undisputed Muslim leader of Rampur. His political journey has been very strong:
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10 times MLA: Azam Khan was elected MLA from Rampur Sadar assembly seat a record 10 times (1980, 1985, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1996, 2002, 2007, 2017 and 2022). However, shortly after winning the election from jail for the first time in 2022 and becoming MLA for the 10th time, his assembly membership was terminated due to a court sentence.
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2 time MP: Azam Khan was also elected MP from Rampur Lok Sabha seat twice (16th Lok Sabha in 2014 and 17th Lok Sabha in 2019). Apart from this, he has been the cabinet minister of the most powerful ministries like Urban Development, Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Welfare in the governments of Mulayam Singh Yadav and Akhilesh Yadav.
Under which cases is Azam Khan currently lodged in Rampur jail?
Azam Khan is currently in jail after being convicted by the court in several criminal and legal cases. Rampur Jail I am serving a sentence. The main cases against him are as follows:
| Case name/charge | Sentence given by the court and current situation |
| double pan card case | Azam Khan in this case 10 years jail sentence Has happened. After his son Abdullah Azam was also found guilty in the same case. 7 years imprisonment He is in jail along with his father. |
| Inflammatory speech and indecent remarks (2019) | During the 2019 Lok Sabha election campaign, the MP-MLA court booked him for calling the then DM and administrative officials ‘tankhaiya’ (threatening to clean the shoes). 2 years jail and ₹5,000 fine Was told. |
| Dungarpur Asra Housing Case | MP-MLA court in this case of forcibly demolishing and looting the houses of the poor 10 years imprisonment Was heard. However, in September 2025, Allahabad High Court stayed this sentence and granted him bail. |
Azam Khan still has direct influence on UP politics and 17-18 seats.
Even though Azam Khan may not have the same hold on the organizational structure of Samajwadi Party due to his continuous stay in jail and being embroiled in legal cases, he is still the biggest face in the Muslim politics of UP.
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Regional Impact: All of Azam Khan’s Rampur districts 5 assembly seats There is a one-sided impact on (Rampur Sadar, Suar, Chamraua, Bilaspur and Milak).
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Role of Kingmaker: Apart from this, Muslim dominated areas of neighboring districts like Moradabad, Sambhal, Bijnor and Bareilly 10 to 12 more seats But even today his speeches and rallies have the power to turn the tables. i.e. they directly Election results of 17 to 18 seats affected Can do. This is the reason that despite all the controversies, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav never allowed him to stay away from the party.
The political chessboard behind the ‘bulldozer action’ on the university
Both the government and the opposition have their own political agendas and messages behind the order to demolish 38 buildings of Jauhar University:
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Government’s message (Rule of Law): The Rampur Development Authority and the government camp argue that this is purely an administrative action against urban development rules and illegal construction. Through this, an attempt is being made to give a message to the public that the law is equal for everyone, no matter how big a politician he is.
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Sympathy strategy of SP and Azam Khan: On the other hand, the Samajwadi Party may present this major action as an attack on a ‘minority educational institution’. SP will try to tell Muslim voters that Azam Khan is being deliberately targeted as part of political vendetta. Through this sympathy wave, SP wants to keep its traditional Muslim vote bank completely united so that the votes do not get scattered towards BSP or Congress.
Danger of Polarization: Political analysts believe that if bulldozers run on Johar University, then once again a situation of intense polarization of votes may arise in Uttar Pradesh, which may directly benefit the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).