New Delhi:
It is the Samajwadi Party's attempt to revive its flagging fortunes in Uttar Pradesh. Once again, by playing the Muslim card. And the man the party is counting on is Abu Azmi.
Mulayam Singh's friendship with Kalyan Singh turned out to be a tactical disaster for the Samajwadi Party and partymen say it has meant the erosion of its strong Muslim vote base in the state. Kalyan Singh was the chief minister of BJP-ruled UP when the Babri Masjid was demolished.
After several miserable electoral performances, the party has dumped Kalyan Singh and is now looking to Abu Azmi to salvage lost ground and votebank. Azam Khan, the party's original Muslim face had walked out in a huff before the Lok Sabha elections in May.
The MNS attack on Azmi for taking oath in Hindi in the Maharashtra Assembly gave the Samajwadi Party a handle and the party is milking the incident to the maximum.
Azmi got a rousing welcome in Lucknow, and party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav was quick to point out - "Such a historic welcome means your responsibilites have increased."
Abu Azmi is trying his best to fit into the mantle of the Samjawadi Party's original Muslim face. "I have heard Azam Khan for a long time. He has great oratorial skills," Azmi said of the man whose shoes he hopes to fill.
The party is now trying to restrategise for the Assembly polls in 2012. For this it is imperative that they get back the Muslim votes they gave up by adding Kalyan and losing Azam Khan. Abu Azmi now has an onerous task ahead.