Akhilesh Yadav Expels MLA Pooja Pal From Samajwadi Party After Her Praise For Yogi Adityanath

Last Updated:August 14, 2025, 14:48 IST

This came a day after Pooja Pal praised Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath for delivering justice to women after the death of gangster-cum-politician Atiq Ahmed.

Akhilesh Yadav accused MLA Pooja Pal of anti-party activities and indiscipline. (PTI/File)

The Samajwadi Party on Thursday expelled party MLA Pooja Pal for anti-party activities and indiscipline, a day after she praised Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for delivering justice to women after the death of gangster-cum-politician Atiq Ahmed.

Notably, Atiq Ahmed was an accused in the 2005 murder case of her husband and former BSP legislator Raju Pal. Pooja Pal had thanked CM Yogi for delivering justice to women under the government’s anti-crime policies.

In a letter, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav accused Pooja Pal of anti-party activities, which harmed the party. “The action taken by you is against the party and a serious breach of discipline. Hence, you are being expelled from the Samajwadi Party with immediate effect. Additionally, you will be removed from the party’s other posts and you will not take party in any event/meetings of the party, nor you will be invited," he added.

In 2005, BSP MLA Raju Pal was shot dead in Prayagraj, shortly after his marriage to Pooja Pal. In February 2023, Umesh Pal, a crucial witness to the murder, was killed in Prayagraj’s Sulem Saray area. Atiq Ahmad and his brother Ashraf Ahmad were the main suspects and were arrested by the police.

Atiq Ahmed and his brother were shot dead in the midst of police security, while being taken for a medical check-up in April 2023.

ALSO READ: This Prayagraj BSP MLA Was Chased, Shot Dead In 2005. Here’s Why His Wife Thanked CM Yogi

Pooja Pal Praises Yogi Adityanath

While addressing the 24-hour marathon discussion on ‘Vision Document 2047’ in the UP Assembly on Wednesday, Pooja Pal thanked Yogi Adityanath for eliminating Atiq Ahmad and lauded his zero-tolerance policies.

“Everyone knows who murdered my husband (Raju Pal). I want to thank the Chief Minister for bringing me justice and hearing me when nobody else did. The CM gave justice to many other women like me in Prayagraj by bringing in policies like zero tolerance that led to the killing of criminals like Atiq Ahmed. Today, the entire state looks at the CM with trust," she said.

“Mere pati ke hatyare Atiq Ahmed ko Mukhya Mantri ne mitti mein milaane ka kaam kiya’ (The Chief Minister has buried my husband’s murderer Atiq Ahmed. I raised my voice when I saw that no one wanted to fight against criminals like Atiq Ahmed. When I started getting exhausted with this fight, CM Yogi Adityanath gave me justice."

News politics Akhilesh Yadav Expels MLA Pooja Pal From Samajwadi Party After Her Praise For Yogi Adityanath

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