Akhilesh Yadav–Pooja Pal row prompts BJP rebuttal over Raju Pal murder case claims

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav criticised former SP MLA Pooja Pal after her remarks praising Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, saying she had been misled. The BJP responded sharply, alleging the SP has a blood-stained history linked to the Raju Pal murder case. Yadav also referenced Pal community representation and party funds.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav criticised former party MLA Pooja Pal on Thursday, saying Pal had been misled. The BJP responded by accusing the SP of links to the Raju Pal murder case. The exchange added to an ongoing political fight in Uttar Pradesh over Pal’s comments and the parties’ record on crime.

Pooja Pal, a former SP MLA from Chail in Kaushambi district, earlier described Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath as Dhurandhar. In response, Yadav said Pal had not yet understood the chief minister. Yadav also mocked the remark, suggesting Pal could have used a stronger word. "Wo Adityanath to Dhurandhar se bhi Dhurandhar hain,\" Yadav said.

Akhilesh Yadav targets Pooja Pal remarks

At a press conference, Yadav alleged that the BJP was uneasy due to senior SP leader Shyamlal Pal. Yadav claimed the ruling party lacked a Pal community leader of similar standing. Yadav also questioned Pooja Pal’s political shift after leaving the SP. Yadav said party workers who backed Pal faced confusion.

Yadav said, \"They have misled our partys MLA, Pooja Pal. You can imagine what party workers must be going through who helped her win. It is also worth thinking about how her MLA fund is being utilised now,\" while attacking Pal’s stand. Yadav also raised questions about the support behind Pal’s election.

Yadav added that Pal was not removed at first because Pal was a woman legislator. Yadav said the party later expelled Pal due to compulsion. Pal was expelled from the SP in August last year for alleged anti-party activities. This followed praise in the Assembly for Yogi Adityanath’s action against criminals.

BJP replies on Pooja Pal and Raju Pal case

Union Minister of State for Finance and Uttar Pradesh BJP president Pankaj Chaudhary hit back at the SP. Chaudhary linked the matter to the killing of former MLA Raju Pal. \"The FIR should be filed over that blood-soaked history in which those who killed the promising son of the Pal community, late Raju Pal, were sheltered and elevated by the Samajwadi Party,\" Chaudhary said.

Chaudhary accused the SP of old ties with crime, mafia, and patronage politics. Chaudhary alleged that criminals gained political legitimacy during SP rule. Chaudhary also said Yadav should explain why criminals felt confident then. Chaudhary claimed the state was often described as jungle raj during that period.

Chaudhary further claimed the Pal community had shifted away from what Chaudhary called fake socialism. Chaudhary said people now backed politics tied to development, security, and nationalism. The BJP used Pal’s Assembly remarks to question the SP’s stand. The BJP also said voters judged parties on governance and law and order.

Pooja Pal is the widow of former BSP MLA Raju Pal, who was shot dead in 2005 in Prayagraj. The killing came soon after Raju Pal’s marriage. The attack was linked to gangster-politician Atiq Ahmad. Chaudhary said the SP should introspect instead of making allegations, and said the public knew who backed development.

With inputs from PTI