Lucknow, April 16 (IANS): The Bharatiya Janata Party will petition the Election Commission to cancel the recognition of the Samajwadi Party, leaders said Wednesday.

Laxmikant Bajpayi, Uttar Pradesh state BJP president, said the step was being taken in view of the speeches of Urban Development Minister Mohd Azam Khan read out at election rallies in the presence of senior leaders, including Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav.

He said it was a complete breach of the gag orders issued by the poll panel on the vitriolic minister.

"What is even more surprising is the fact that the communal letter of Azam Khan was read out by legislator Abid Raza Khan at an election rally in the presence of Akhilesh Yadav," Bajpayi told IANS.

Azam Khan, who was last week barred by the poll panel from campaigning for his inflammatory speeches, had Tuesday written to the party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav and accused the Election Commission, yet again, of working at the behest of Congress and victimisng Muslims.