Apna Dal (S) on Sunday released its first official candidate list for the upcoming Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections. The lone name in the list was Haider Ali Khan, and he would contest from the Soar constituency.
उत्तर प्रदेश विधानसभा चुनाव 2022 हेतु @ApnaDalUP के अधिकारिक प्रत्याशियों की प्रथम सूची pic.twitter.com/88catsYha8
— Apna Dal (S) (@ApnaDalOfficial) January 23, 2022
This makes Hyder Ali Khan the first Muslim candidate to be fielded by the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance for the upcoming Uttar Pradesh elections. Earlier this week, the BJP had announced that it would contest the elections in alliance with Apna Dal(S) and Nishad Party.
In Swar in Rampur district, Haider Ali Khan is likely to go up against Abdullah Azam, son of senior Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan. In the 2017 assembly elections, Abdullah Azam contested from the pig and won. However, in 2019, the Allahabad High Court declared his election invalid on the ground that he was not a minimum of 25 years of age when he filed his nomination.
Who is Haider Ali Khan?
Haider Ali Khan is the son of Congress leader Nawab Kazim Ali Khan, who will contest from the neighboring Rampur constituency.
Earlier, Haider Ali Khan was declared the Congress candidate from Suar on January 13. However, he had joined Apna Dal(S) in Delhi a few days back. “I have joined Apna Dal(S) so that I can ensure the development of my constituency,”.
Haider Ali Khan is the second Congress candidate to quit the party after being nominated for the election, the first being Supriya Aaron, the party’s candidate from Bareilly Cantonment. She joined the Samajwadi Party on Saturday.
Haider Ali Khan studied at Modern School in Delhi and went abroad for further studies. He has previously handled election work for his father.
Why did they change parties?
On switching from Congress to NDA, Haider Ali Khan said, “I am inspired by the struggle of my party leader Anupriya Patel. In the last five years, the UP government has done tremendous work. A bridge built by my family was broken. Azam For money by Khan. It is being repaired by this government. It connects the rural parts of the district with the city.”
“The benefits of all the schemes have reached the Muslims of UP. Muslims will support the NDA,” he said.
Azam vs Nawab family feud
Samajwadi Party’s Azam Khan has had a long rivalry with the ‘Nawabs of Rampur’ and has faced multiple elections against the family or fielded candidates against them. In this context, the possible fight of Abdullah Azam vs Haider Ali Khan in Suar would be worth watching.
On this Haider Ali Khan said, “Abdullah Azam fill the form first. What date of birth will he enter?
More recently, Abdullah Azam was granted bail and walked out of Sitapur Jail. Although his father is still behind bars in several cases against him.