Expelled SP Leader Pooja Pal Rules Out Immediate BJP Switch, To Consult Community Before Next Move

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav expelled party MLA Pooja Pal on Thursday, just hours after she openly praised Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for delivering justice in the murder case of her husband, former BSP MLA Raju Pal.

An official statement signed by Akhilesh cited Pal’s repeated involvement in “anti-party activities” despite prior warnings. The letter stated that her actions had caused “significant damage” to the party, leaving no option but to expel her.

Why Pooja Pal Was Expelled

The expulsion came shortly after Pooja Pal lauded Yogi Adityanath for his “zero-tolerance” approach to crime and thanked him for ensuring justice in her husband’s case.

She praised the CM for acting against criminals like Atiq Ahmed, convicted in the murder of her husband.

“Everyone knows who murdered my husband. I want to thank the Chief Minister for giving me justice and hearing me when no one else did. The CM has given justice to many women in Prayagraj through policies like zero tolerance, which led to the elimination of criminals like Atiq Ahmed,” she said.

She further stated, “Today, the entire state looks to the CM with trust. My husband’s killer, Atiq Ahmed, was brought to justice by the Chief Minister. I raised my voice when I saw no one was willing to take on criminals like him. When I began to lose strength in this fight, CM Yogi Adityanath gave me justice.”

The Story of Raju Pal

Raju Pal, a BSP MLA, won the Allahabad West bypoll in 2005 after defeating Ashraf Ahmed, the brother of gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed.

Just days after his marriage, Raju was shot dead in broad daylight, a killing suspected to have stemmed from political rivalry.

Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf were later convicted for the murder. However, in April 2023, while in police custody, both were shot dead outside Colvin Hospital in Prayagraj by three unidentified assailants posing as journalists.

The same day, Atiq’s son Asad, accused in the Umesh Pal murder case, was killed in a police encounter in Jhansi.

The Final Trigger

During the assembly debate on Vision Document 2047 on August 13, Pooja Pal praised Yogi Adityanath for finally delivering justice in her husband’s case.

“Mere pati ke hatyare Atiq Ahmed ko Mukhya Mantri ne mitti mein milaane ka kaam kiya,” she declared.

Her remarks directly contradicted the SP leadership’s warnings against praising rival policies. Hours later, Akhilesh Yadav acted swiftly, expelling her for “serious indiscipline.” The expulsion letter also barred her from attending party meetings and events.

A History of Cross-Party Moves

Pooja Pal has had a turbulent political career. After Raju Pal’s murder, she entered politics but lost the Allahabad West bypoll to Ashraf Ahmed. She later won the seat in 2007 and 2012, but lost in 2017 to BJP’s Sidharth Nath Singh.

She joined the SP in 2019 after being expelled from the BSP by Mayawati. In 2022, she won the Chail seat in Kaushambi.

However, she was among seven SP MLAs who supported BJP candidates during the 2024 Rajya Sabha elections. Despite this, she avoided expulsion at that time, reportedly due to caste considerations.

Political observers note that Akhilesh overlooked her earlier defiance because of her influence among the Pal community. But with SP state president Shayamlal Pal now representing the same community, the party leadership had more freedom to act.

SP’s Stand and Reactions

Senior SP leader Udaiveer Singh defended the decision, saying Pal had repeatedly damaged the party’s image. “We gave her a chance earlier to change her stance because she hails from a vulnerable community… She didn’t change and compelled us to expel her.”

He also hinted that she may have acted out of fear or pressure. “We gave her a ticket from the seat of her choice, but she deceived us,” Singh alleged.

On the other hand, Pal stood by her statements. “Perhaps you could not hear the women in Prayagraj who were even more worried than me. But I am their voice. I was a victim woman first, a wife first. I stand by my statement even today,” she said, insisting her gratitude did not amount to betrayal.

Wider Political Fallout

Journalist Mudit Mathur wrote that Pal’s expulsion was expected but argued that Akhilesh should have served her a show-cause notice before expelling her directly.

Analyst Utkarsh Singh added that the SP acted decisively only after securing an alternate leader from the Pal community.

Meanwhile, UP deputy chief minister Brajesh Pathak, representing the BJP, criticized the SP’s move. “The entire House has unanimously accepted that the policy of the Samajwadi Party is anti-women. This reflects their ghatiya soch [cheap mindset],” he alleged.

He defended Pal’s stance, saying her praise for Adityanath’s governance did not warrant such punishment.