The Samajwadi Party (SP) on Thursday expelled its MLA Pooja Pal for alleged anti-party activities and indiscipline. The move came a day after she publicly praised Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for his zero-tolerance policy against crime.
Pooja Pal, the widow of slain BSP legislator Raju Pal, credited the policy for delivering justice in her husband’s murder case involving gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed.
Party Action After Praise for CM Yogi
The SP leadership acted swiftly after Pooja Pal’s remarks in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly. She had openly lauded the Chief Minister’s role in improving law and order and in eliminating criminals like Atiq Ahmed.
ALSO READ: ‘CM Yogi Gave Me Justice’: SP MLA Pooja Pal on Husband’s Murder Case | Watch
Party sources said her statements violated the SP’s position and amounted to indiscipline. The official expulsion letter cited “anti-party activities” as the reason for her removal.
What Pooja Pal Said in Assembly
Speaking during a 24-hour marathon discussion on ‘Vision Document 2047’, Pooja Pal said, “Everyone knows who murdered my husband. The Chief Minister heard me when no one else did. His zero-tolerance policy led to the killing of criminals like Atiq Ahmed. Today, the entire state looks at him with trust.”
She further added in Hindi, “Mere pati ke hatyare Atiq Ahmed ko Mukhya Mantri ne mitti mein milaane ka kaam kiya” (The Chief Minister buried my husband’s murderer, Atiq Ahmed).
#WATCH | Lucknow, UP | Addressing during the 24-hour marathon discussion on ‘Vision Document 2047’ in the UP Assembly, Samajwadi Party MLA Pooja Pal says, “… Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath gave justice to many women like me by bringing in policies such as zero tolerance that… pic.twitter.com/fN0Agp2nka
— ANI (@ANI) August 14, 2025
Recalling her long struggle, she said, “I raised my voice when no one wanted to fight against criminals like Atiq Ahmed. When I began to tire, CM Yogi Adityanath stood by me and gave me justice.”
The 2005 Raju Pal Murder Case
Raju Pal was gunned down in January 2005 in Prayagraj, just days after his wedding. The murder was linked to political rivalry. He had defeated Atiq Ahmed’s brother Ashraf in the 2004 bypoll for the Prayagraj West Assembly seat.
The case gained renewed attention in February 2023 when Umesh Pal, a key witness, was killed in a daylight attack in Prayagraj’s Sulem Saray area.
Chain of Events Leading to Atiq Ahmed’s Death
Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf, both named as prime accused in the case, were later arrested. On April 15, 2023, the duo was shot dead at close range by men posing as journalists. The killing took place while police were escorting them for a medical check-up in Prayagraj. The incident was caught on camera.
Days before the shooting, Atiq’s son Asad was killed in an alleged police encounter in Jhansi. The chain of events sparked a political storm, with the opposition accusing the government of breakdown in law and order.
Pooja Pal’s remarks in favour of the Chief Minister highlighted his tough stance on organised crime. She credited the state’s “zero tolerance” approach for ending the reign of fear imposed by notorious gangsters.
Her public praise, however, directly contradicted her party’s political narrative and ultimately led to her expulsion from the Samajwadi Party.
MUST READ: ‘Vote chori’ is the newest reason Rahul Gandhi isn’t the PM!?
