Azam Khan is the most powerful voice of Muslim masses and exercises an immense credibility and control over the voting patterns of Muslims, particularly, in Saharanpur, Meerut, Muzaffarnagar, Muradabad, Bareily and other areas of Uttar Pradesh.
The next Indian general election is 2024. But five state elections take place in February, with over one hundred million people likely to take part, and two very big ones.
Indian prime minister Narendra Modi and his comrade, fundamentalist monk and Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath
Starting on 10 February, the giant Indian state of Uttar Pradesh - population over 230 million! - is voting in crucially important state elections, in a major test of how much last year's victorious farmers' struggle has pushed back India's far right. The left and labour movement in the UK should be paying much more attention.
The outcome of an election kicking off this week in Uttar Pradesh could prove a bellwether for the 2024 general election and the fortunes of Premier Modi's Hindu nationalist BJP.
The outcome of an election kicking off this week in Uttar Pradesh could prove to be a bellwether for the 2024 general election and the fortunes of Premier Modi's Hindu nationalist BJP.