BJP Set to Ticket Three Samajwadi Party Rebels While Two More Face Hurdles

Uttar Pradesh political equations are shifting as three former Samajwadi Party MLAs who cross-voted in the February 2024 Rajya Sabha elections are positioned to secure BJP tickets for upcoming polls, while two others face local friction. Manoj Pandey from Unchahar, Pooja Pal from Chail, and Rakesh Pratap Singh of Gauriganj are all slated for BJP candidacy, backed by their regional influence and caste demographics. Manoj Pandey brings strong Brahmin support across the Awadh region and already serves as a cabinet minister in the Yogi Adityanath government. Pooja Pal, a prominent Dalit and backward-class female leader whose husband Raju Pal was killed in 2005 by Atiq Ahmed's gang, strengthens BJP's push in Prayagraj and Bundelkhand. Rakesh Pratap Singh has won three consecutive terms in Gauriganj and offers a solid Thakur vote base.

Internal Friction

Not all seven rebel leaders enjoy a clear path forward. Gosaingunj MLA Abhay Singh faces resistance from local BJP cadre supporting Indrapratap Tiwari, also known as Khabbu Tiwari, whose wife previously contested the seat. Meanwhile, Kalpi MLA Vinod Chaturvedi joined the BJP but faces opposition because his constituency falls under NDA ally Nishad Party's quota, alongside local protests labeling him an outsider. Two other rebels remain unconfirmed. Rakesh Pandey from Jalalpur has not yet joined BJP as he aims to secure a ticket for his son Ritesh Pandey through Samajwadi Party, and Ashutosh Maurya from Bisauli recently met party chief Akhilesh Yadav to secure forgiveness and remain active in the opposition fold.

Reactions

Meanwhile, three additional MLAs—Rakesh Pratap Singh, Abhay Singh, and Vinod Chaturvedi—formally joined the BJP at an event in Amethi attended by former Union minister Smriti Indira and UP BJP leaders. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav criticized the switch on social media, warning that turncoats will find no acceptance in their new party. SP leader Ravidas Mehrotra claimed the party had already expelled these members over cross-voting and dismissed any negative impact on the opposition. Conversely, UP BJP President Pankaj Chaudhary asserted that leaders are suffocating under Akhilesh Yadav's caste-based politics and predicted further defections.

Context

Cross-voting during the 2024 Rajya Sabha polls exposed deep internal fractures within the opposition camp in Uttar Pradesh. Political parties frequently absorb high-profile local figures from rival camps to recapture seats lost in previous high-stakes general elections. Regional caste math and local cadre loyalty often dictate how easily a party can accommodate political switchovers.