Samajwadi Party Expels Pooja Pal: Introduction
In a decisive move, the Samajwadi Party (SP) has expelled MLA Pooja Pal, citing allegations of anti-party conduct and breach of discipline. The expulsion came shortly after she openly appreciated Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for his uncompromising stance on crime—a policy she credited with improving public safety and helping her secure justice in the long-running case against gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed.
A Remark That Sparked Political Tension
During a special 24-hour discussion in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly on the Vision Document 2047, Pooja Pal—widow of slain BSP legislator Raju Pal—shared her personal ordeal and expressed gratitude to the Chief Minister.
She stated:
“Everyone knows who murdered my husband. When others turned away, the Chief Minister listened. His zero-tolerance approach resulted in the elimination of criminals like Atiq Ahmed. Today, people across the state place their trust in him.”
In Hindi, she made an even more direct comment:
“Mere pati ke hatyare Atiq Ahmed ko Mukhya Mantri ne mitti mein milaane ka kaam kiya” (The Chief Minister put my husband’s killer, Atiq Ahmed, in the ground).
For Pal, the CM’s actions represented the closure she had been seeking for nearly two decades.
A Case That Shook Uttar Pradesh
January 2005 marked a dark chapter for Uttar Pradesh politics with the brutal killing of Raju Pal. Just days after his wedding, he was shot dead in Prayagraj in an attack allegedly orchestrated by Atiq Ahmed and his network.
The tragedy resurfaced in February 2023 when Umesh Pal, a key witness in the case, was assassinated in broad daylight in the city’s Sulem Saray locality. The killings reignited debate over the nexus between politics and organised crime in the state.
Later that year, Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf, both under arrest and facing multiple criminal charges, were fatally shot at close range by armed men posing as journalists while being escorted for a medical check-up in Prayagraj.
The Expulsion and Its Political Underpinnings
Pooja Pal’s praise for Yogi Adityanath—leader of the BJP, the SP’s main rival—was seen by party leadership as crossing a red line. The SP high command interpreted her remarks as a violation of loyalty and an act damaging to the party’s image. The disciplinary committee moved swiftly, issuing her expulsion order.
This incident highlights the fragile balance between personal convictions and political affiliations in Indian politics, especially on polarising topics such as crime control and public safety.
A Broader Debate on Justice and Governance
Yogi Adityanath’s zero-tolerance policy on crime has been a defining element of his tenure, winning praise from supporters for tackling criminal networks. However, critics have raised concerns over the increasing number of police “encounters” and the risk of bypassing due legal process.
For Pooja Pal, the matter is deeply personal. Her comments reflect not just a political position, but a sense of closure after years of fear, legal battles, and public pressure.
