Political realignments have started taking shape in Uttar Pradesh ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections. In a significant political setback for Congress Lok Sabha MP Imran Masood from Saharanpur, his son-in-law Shayan Masood has parted ways with the Congress party and officially joined the Samajwadi Party. Immediately after his induction into the Samajwadi Party, Shayan Masood announced his political shift by posting a promotional song on his social media handle in support of party chief Akhilesh Yadav.
Formal Induction in Lucknow and Social Media Footprint
Shayan Masood traveled to the state capital Lucknow alongside his father Shajan Masood to visit the Samajwadi Party headquarters. During a special event organized at the party office, Samajwadi Party national president Akhilesh Yadav personally welcomed Shayan Masood into the fold by wrapping a party scarf around his neck and granting him official membership. Following the ceremony, Shayan Masood shared campaign media supporting Akhilesh Yadav on his social media accounts, sparking widespread discussion in local political circles.
Shayan Masood hails from a prominent political family in western Uttar Pradesh. He is the grandson of former Union Minister Rasheed Masood, while his father Shajan Masood is the brother of MP Imran Masood. Shayan Masood previously held a minister-rank status during the Akhilesh Yadav led government in Uttar Pradesh, though he later switched his allegiance to the Bahujan Samaj Party for a brief period before returning to mainstream political activity.
Family Discontent and Local Political Friction
The political transition comes against the backdrop of growing internal friction within the Masood family. Recently, Imran Masood publicly declared that no member of his family would contest the upcoming 2027 Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh. This announcement caused considerable dissatisfaction among family members, sparking rumors that Shayan Masood might look for an alternative political platform to continue his career.
The strain was further heightened on August 18 during a District Development Coordination and Monitoring Committee (Disha) meeting held in Saharanpur. The meeting witnessed a heated argument between Congress MP Imran Masood and Samajwadi Party MLA Ashu Malik, who represents the Saharanpur Dehat Assembly constituency. Although an electoral alliance between the Samajwadi Party and Congress is widely anticipated for the 2027 state elections, with Imran Masood repeatedly demanding a respectful share of seats for his party, ground-level friction between leaders has become increasingly evident.
Imran Masood's Past Political Shifts
Frequent shifts in political affiliation have been a feature of the region's political landscape. Imran Masood himself joined the Samajwadi Party just prior to the 2022 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections in the hope of securing an election ticket. However, after failing to obtain a nomination from Akhilesh Yadav, he defected to the Bahujan Samaj Party. He subsequently returned to the Congress party and successfully contested the 2024 Lok Sabha elections to become the MP from Saharanpur.
Electoral Math of Saharanpur and Potential Impact on 2027 Polls
The district of Saharanpur comprises 7 Assembly seats in total. Currently, the Bharatiya Janata Party holds 5 of these seats, while the Samajwadi Party retains 2 seats. Political observers note that internal family disputes and public spats between coalition leaders could complicate matters for the Opposition alliance in 2027. If the division within the Masood family splits their traditional voter base, it could ultimately work to the advantage of the Bharatiya Janata Party in the upcoming electoral contest.
