Lucknow, August 17, 2025 – Politics in Uttar Pradesh got a fresh twist yesterday when Pooja Pal, a former lawmaker from the Samajwadi Party who was recently kicked out, met Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath at his official residence in Lucknow. This comes just days after her expulsion from the SP, and it’s got everyone buzzing about whether she’s planning to jump ship to the Bharatiya Janata Party.
Pooja Pal, who represents the Chail seat in the state assembly, has been in the spotlight for her strong words of praise for Yogi’s tough stance on crime. During a long debate in the UP Assembly on the ‘Vision Document 2047’ last week, she openly thanked the Chief Minister for giving her justice in a painful personal matter. Her husband, Raju Pal, a BSP leader and MLA, was gunned down in Prayagraj back in 2005, just days after their wedding. The main accused, gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed, was killed along with his brother Ashraf in 2023 while in police custody, an event Pooja credits to Yogi’s zero-tolerance policy against criminals.
“I want to thank the Chief Minister for bringing me justice and hearing me when nobody else did,” Pooja said in the assembly. She added that Yogi had “buried” her husband’s killer in the ground, referring to Atiq’s end, and that his policies have restored trust in law and order across the state. She even shared how she felt exhausted fighting alone until Yogi stepped in.
But these comments didn’t sit well with her party bosses. SP chief Akhilesh Yadav expelled her right away, calling her actions “anti-party” and a breach of discipline. The expulsion letter pointed out that despite warnings, she kept up the praise for Yogi, which hurt the party’s image. UP ministers from the BJP side hit back at the SP, saying it shows how the opposition can’t handle different views and doesn’t respect the women leaders from Dalit background.
The meeting on August 16 has only added fuel to the fire. Sources say Pooja has been vocal about her admiration for Yogi’s work lately, and this face-to-face chat could be a sign she’s ready to switch sides. Political watchers in Lucknow are betting she’ll join the BJP soon, especially with elections on the horizon. It wouldn’t be the first time a leader crosses over in UP’s ever-shifting alliances.
For Pooja, this seems personal as much as political. After years of seeking closure over her husband’s murder, which also saw a key witness, Umesh Pal, killed in 2023, she sees Yogi as the one who finally delivered. “The CM saw my hidden tears that no one noticed for years,” she said in her assembly statement.
As UP politics heats up, all eyes are on what Pooja does next. Will she stay independent, or is a saffron entry in the cards? Only time will tell, but this meeting has definitely shaken things up.
