Akhilesh Yadav braces for showdown in UP assembly

Samajwadi Party leaders also fear for the anger of state Parliamentary Affairs Minister Azam Khan, who has criticised the government over mishandling the Muzaffarnagar riots.

Azam Khan, who has often salvaged the situation for the government in the past, did not attend the party's all-important "business advisory committee" meeting Sunday.

State Public Works Department Minister Shivpal Yadav, however, played down Khan's absence and said the minister would be present in the assembly Monday.