The Phulpur assembly seat in Prayagraj is gearing up for a by-election, where the battle lines are drawn between the Samajwadi Party (SP) and BJP. In an unexpected move, SP legislator Pooja Pal has chosen to campaign for the BJP candidate in Phulpur, stirring local political dynamics.
It’s noteworthy that Pooja Pal, having rebelled against the SP, hails from the Chayal assembly seat in Kaushambi and is now vocally supporting the BJP. She actively campaigns for BJP candidate Deepak Patel in Phulpur, having previously crossed party lines during the Rajya Sabha elections to back the BJP.
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Pooja Pal has also met with CM Yogi Adityanath and Deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya several times, fueling speculations of her proximity to the BJP. Pal cites justice from CM Yogi as her reason for backing the BJP candidate, expressing gratitude toward him.
On January 25, 2005, Raju Pal, the BSP legislator for the city West Assembly seat in Prayagraj, was murdered in broad daylight. Pooja Pal, his wife, fought a prolonged legal battle as accusations pointed toward mafia Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf. Pooja Pal, having endured this legal ordeal, shifted her support toward BJP during the Rajya Sabha elections after receiving assistance from the Yogi administration.
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Though Atiq and Ashraf have since been murdered, the CBI Court in Lucknow has convicted several accused in the Raju Pal murder case, acknowledging the aid of the Yogi government in securing justice. This support has steered Pooja Pal toward campaigning for the BJP candidate, amplifying political fervor in Phulpur.
