Lucknow: Senior Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Azam Khan on Friday underscored his enduring relationship with party president Akhilesh Yadav, describing it as a familial bond that transcends politics and has been nurtured over multiple generations. Speaking to PTI Videos after visiting Yadav at his residence in Lucknow, Khan reflected on the depth of their association, which he said spans half a century.

“My relationship with this home is 50 years old, which is half a century. It would take years to weaken, and centuries to break. I may not have centuries left, but this bond continues with the next generation,” Khan said. Emphasising the resilience of their connection, he added, “If ever a little rust gathers on it, I will clean it myself; no one else is needed.”

Khan also reiterated his continued allegiance to the Samajwadi Party, dismissing speculation about a possible split. “We have already endured immense pain and injustice in life; there can hardly be more. Having withstood all of that, why should we part ways now?” he asked. His son and former MLA Abdullah Azam, who accompanied him during the meeting, noted, “We are one family. The discussion was entirely familial, not political. What is said within families should not be discussed publicly.”

Following the visit, Akhilesh Yadav shared a poignant post on X, reflecting on the historical and emotional significance of the meeting. “Na jaane kitni yaadein sang le aaye, jab wo aaj hamare ghar par aaye! Ye jo mel-milaap hai, yahi hamari saanjhi virasat hai,” he wrote, highlighting the shared legacy that has defined their association.

The meeting comes amid recent speculation that Khan might consider leaving the Samajwadi Party over alleged differences with Yadav. Khan has categorically denied any such intention, reaffirming his commitment to the party and its leadership.

This interaction marked the second major engagement between the two leaders in a month. Earlier, on October 8, Akhilesh Yadav visited Rampur to meet Khan and assured that if the party returned to power, all pending cases against him and other close associates would be withdrawn. During that visit, Yadav described Khan as a “strong pillar” and an “old tree” of the party, reflecting both respect for his seniority and recognition of his contributions to the SP’s political journey.

Azam Khan, 77, is a founding member of the Samajwadi Party and has long been a close aide of the party’s late patriarch, Mulayam Singh Yadav. He was recently released after serving nearly two years in jail in multiple criminal cases, including charges related to land grabbing, intimidation, and goat theft. Despite these legal challenges, Khan remains a significant political figure in Uttar Pradesh, with influence extending across multiple generations of SP leadership.

The meeting and Khan’s reaffirmation of loyalty to the Samajwadi Party are being seen as a signal of stability within the party ranks, especially in light of the ongoing political realignments in the state. Party observers note that Khan’s support could be crucial in consolidating the SP’s grassroots base, particularly in western Uttar Pradesh, where he commands considerable influence.