LUCKNOW, Sept. 23 -- Though Samajwadi Party leaders, including national president Akhilesh Yadav and senior leader Shivpal Yadav, threw their weight behind Mohammad Azam Khan, whose release from jail has created a flutter in Uttar Pradesh politics amid speculations of him joining the Bahujan Samaj Party, the latter chose to keep everyone guessing.

Akhilesh termed his release a moment of happiness and said they had always trusted the court to do justice. Shivpal dismissed "rumours" of Khan joining another party. Khan, however, remained non-committal, sidestepping questions on his political future.

However, Khan, one of the most prominent Muslim figures in Uttar Pradesh politics, who finally walked out of Sitapur jail on Tuesday afternoon...