In the badlands of Samajwadi Party (SP) ruled Uttar Pradesh , a new-age Godfather has edged out the genteel nawabs in their own state. In just over a month since the state voted SP to power, local MLA Azam Khan has struck terror in the erstwhile state of Rampur. He holds court in his office on Topkhana Road, where new writs are issued almost every week. He instructs the butchers to lower the rate at which they sell meat; directs private doctors to reduce their fees by 20 per cent and has ordered a spree of demolitions, of illegal structures, in the city.