While the Akhilesh Yadav government faces trouble in riot-hit western UP districts, it faces greater trouble in the Samajwadi Party.
Azam Khan, a senior minister in the Akhilesh Cabinet and the SP’s Muslim face, stayed away from the party’s national executive session in Agra, reportedly in protest over the “inept” handling of the Muzaffarnagar riots.
Sources said Mr Khan was upset at the way the state government dealt with the riots — more so as Muslims suffered the most in the communal clashes.
While the official reason for his absence was “ill-health”, sources said Mr Khan was upset as the CM ignored his advice on key issues and promoting his bête noire, UP health minister Ahmad Hasan.