Former Uttar Pradesh MLA Pooja Pal met with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday, days after being expelled from the Samajwadi Party (SP) for praising him. Pal, who represented Prayagraj, was expelled from the party on Thursday for alleged anti-party activities and serious indiscipline.
Her expulsion from the party has stirred political controversy, not just over her statements in support of the Chief Minister but also over the manner in which the expulsion was communicated. Rebel SP MLA Rakesh Pratap Singh has sharply criticised SP chief Akhilesh Yadav for addressing Pal as “Ms” instead of “Mrs” in the official expulsion letter, calling it an insult to women’s power.
Pal’s expulsion came shortly after she publicly praised Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for his administration’s strict action against criminals like Atiq Ahmed, whom she accused of murdering her husband, Raju Pal, just nine days after their marriage.
In the UP Legislative Assembly, Pal commended Yogi’s zero-tolerance policies, stating, “I want to thank the Chief Minister for giving me justice when no one else listened.” Within hours, the Samajwadi Party issued an expulsion letter signed by Akhilesh Yadav, citing her continued defiance of party directives and activities deemed harmful to the organisation.
However, it is the wording of the letter that has now become a focal point. Rakesh Pratap Singh released a video strongly objecting to the use of the title ‘Ms’ before Pooja Pal’s name, arguing that it undermines her identity as a married woman and widow.
“Her husband was murdered just nine days after their marriage. By calling her ‘Ms’ instead of ‘Mrs’, Akhilesh Yadav has disrespected not just Pooja Pal but all women who have endured loss and stood strong,” said Singh.
Singh emphasised that the term ‘Ms’ typically refers to unmarried women, while ‘Mrs’ is conventionally used for married or widowed women. He labelled the usage a symbolic insult, accusing the SP leadership of undermining women’s dignity.
Pal, in response to her expulsion, remained firm in her stance saying that her support for Chief Minister Yogi stemmed from the justice delivered in cases involving women, especially those affected by criminals like Atiq Ahmed. “Perhaps you could not hear the women in Prayagraj who were even more worried than me. But I am their voice.”
Her statements drew a sharp response from within her former party. SP Chief Whip Kamaal Akhtar labeled her remarks as personal and said she should have left the party earlier if she disagreed with its direction.
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