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With speculation rife that BJP may project her as an OBC face to counter SP, Pooja Pal insists her community will have the final say.
Pal was expelled from the SP a day after she praised the governance of CM Yogi Adityanath.(Image: PTI/file photo)
Expelled from the Samajwadi Party after praising Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in the Assembly, Chail MLA Pooja Pal has emerged as a fresh political talking point in the state. Once seen as a symbol of resistance against slain gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed, Pal has now turned her fire on SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, calling him a “Muslim and mafia sympathiser.”
With speculation rife that the BJP may project her as an OBC face to counter the SP’s PDA plank, Pal insists her Pal community and constituents will have the final say. “If given any opportunity by the BJP, and if my community permits, I am ready to take on any responsibility,” she told News18, while also addressing personal controversies that have kept her in the spotlight.
Here are edited excerpts on News18’s interview with Pooja Pal
Q: There is speculation that you might join the BJP soon, and that the party may even assign you a key role in upcoming panchayat polls. What’s your response?
Pooja Pal: It was a surprise for me; none of this was planned. I never thought about joining the BJP. Since 2005, the people of my constituency and my community have supported me immensely. Before making any decision, I will first meet the people and the elders of the Pal community and discuss with them. My only aim is to serve the people, not chase political power. As for speculation about BJP using me against SP’s PDA formula or giving me a big role in panchayat polls, these are just talks. Nothing of that sort has been discussed with me.
Q: You were expelled from the Samajwadi Party on August 14, 2025, after you praised CM Yogi Adityanath’s action against the mafia. How do you justify your remarks, and what do you say to your constituents about integrity and justice?
Pooja Pal: My fight was against the mafia, against Atiq Ahmed — and it was not mine alone, but the fight of my people. Together, by the grace of the almighty, we won. During the 24-hour Viksit Bharat debate in the Vidhan Sabha, I praised the BJP’s zero-tolerance policy on crime, and that became the reason for my expulsion. Akhilesh Yadav’s inclination towards Muslims and mafias is clear. Why didn’t he act when I voted differently in the Rajya Sabha polls? He waited until I spoke in the Assembly — showing his bias.
Akhilesh also claims he made me an MLA. But I was elected twice earlier, in 2007 and 2012, and in 2022, I delivered Chail to SP for the first time since Independence. I am a self-made women.
Q: What made you join the Samajwadi Party in the first place, given your long fight against mafia influence?
Pooja Pal: There were two key reasons. Between 2012 and 2017, when I was an MLA, I closely observed Akhilesh Yadav as Chief Minister. At that time, he maintained distance from people like Atiq Ahmed and Mukhtar Ansari, which impressed me. I recall one incident in Sirathu where Atiq tried to come close to him on stage, and Akhilesh refused to share space. Later, in 2017, when Atiq was given an SP ticket in Kanpur, public protests erupted with slogans of “Atiq go back.” After seeing the videos, Akhilesh immediately cancelled his ticket. These instances convinced me that SP under Akhilesh could stand against mafia elements, and that’s why I joined in 2019 after leaving BSP. Unfortunately, the reality has turned out very differently today.
Q: You have alleged life-threatening intimidation from SP-linked individuals, even warning that the party and its leadership would be responsible if ‘something happens’ to you. What evidence do you have, and what actions are you expecting from the authorities?
Pooja Pal: My situation reminds me of my late husband Raju Pal, who was attacked twice and finally murdered in broad daylight. Back then, during SP’s regime, his security was deliberately weakened. Now, after my expulsion, I feel equally vulnerable. Atiq’s associates — many with 30–40 criminal cases — are still active. Some even celebrated my removal and openly said they would “teach me a lesson.” That is why I met the DGP and submitted a letter, asking for protection and accountability.
Q: Recently, a case was filed in Kaushambi over indecent and defamatory comments about you on social media. What steps are you taking to protect your reputation, and how do you think online discourse should be regulated?
Pooja Pal: That was another reason I approached the DGP. Local YouTubers are spreading falsehoods for cheap publicity. Some even said my marriage with Raju Pal was a “love marriage,” which is a complete lie. It was a simple, arranged temple marriage decided by our families, kept low-profile because Raju ji had already survived multiple attacks by then. Some also claimed Raju ji was once close to Atiq, which is false. In reality, Raju ji always raised his voice against Atiq’s atrocities—that is what made him a target. The DGP has assured me of action. Political discourse on digital platforms must be accountable; it cannot be allowed to destroy reputations with lies.
Who is Pooja Pal?
Pooja Pal is the sitting MLA from Chail constituency in Kaushambi district, Uttar Pradesh, and a political figure who rose to prominence through her fight against the mafia. She first entered politics after the 2005 assassination of her husband, Raju Pal, a Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) legislator who was killed in broad daylight in Prayagraj, allegedly by the Atiq Ahmed gang. Turning her personal tragedy into a political mission, Pooja contested elections and positioned herself as a voice of resistance against mafia dominance in eastern Uttar Pradesh.
She served two consecutive terms as an MLA between 2007 and 2017, representing BSP. In 2022, she won the Chail seat on a Samajwadi Party (SP) ticket, delivering the constituency to SP for the first time since Independence. However, her political journey took a sharp turn in 2025 when she was expelled from SP after praising Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s anti-mafia stance during a debate in the Assembly.
Belonging to the Pal community, a backward caste group of shepherds, Pooja Pal is seen as a potential OBC face in Uttar Pradesh politics. While speculation about her joining the BJP is strong, she maintains that her future course will be guided by her community and constituents.
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