Seven MLAs cross-voted, only three sacked: Akhilesh Yadav's 'selective action' raises eyebrows

As the 2027 battle draws closer, the Samajwadi Party’s challenge will be to manage dissent without derailing the fragile caste coalition it is trying to stitch together.

In a decisive but controversial move, the Samajwadi Party expelled three of its MLAs—Manoj Kumar Pandey, Abhay Singh, and Rakesh Pratap Singh—citing their endorsement of "communal, divisive and anti-PDA" (Pichhda, Dalit, Alpsankhyak) ideology. However, political observers are asking an uncomfortable question: why were four other rebel MLAs spared?

The expulsions, announced via the party’s official X handle, accused the three legislators of defying party values and aligning with forces "against farmers, women, youth, entrepreneurs and workers." The post warned that “any future betrayal of the party’s ideology will be unforgivable.”

But the silence around the remaining four MLAs—Puja Pal (Chail constituency), Ashutosh Maurya (Bisauli), Vinod Chaturvedi (Kalpi), and Rakesh Pandey (Jalalpur)—has not gone unnoticed. All seven had cross-voted in favour of BJP candidates during the February 2024 Rajya Sabha polls, leading to the defeat of SP’s third candidate and a clean sweep for the BJP. Two of the expelled MLAs—Manoj Pandey and Abhay Singh—have since joined the BJP.

Double Standards?

Political circles are abuzz with speculation over Akhilesh Yadav’s “selective crackdown.” While SP spokesperson Udayveer defended the move by saying that the expelled leaders had “openly shared stage with BJP leaders and issued anti-party statements,” he also acknowledged that the other four “cited personal compulsions and have not been openly critical.” That, he said, had earned them a temporary reprieve.

But critics say the real reason may lie in the complex caste arithmetic of Uttar Pradesh politics—particularly the PDA (Pichhda, Dalit, Alpsankhyak) framework that Akhilesh is banking on for the 2027 assembly elections.

Puja Pal, one of the spared MLAs, hails from a Dalit background—a key voter bloc that forms the 'D' in Akhilesh's PDA formula. Suspending her could have sent the wrong message to Dalit voters, just when the SP is trying to build bridges with this community. “Action against Puja Pal would have harmed SP’s outreach to Dalits. Her caste identity likely shielded her,” says political analyst Manoj Bhadra.

Ashutosh Maurya, who represents the 'P' (Pichhda) in PDA, reportedly turned rebel due to internal factionalism within the party. However, he has refrained from making anti-party statements after the RS polls. “He is still seen as salvageable,” says Lucknow-based political commentator A.K. Verma. “Akhilesh wants to avoid alienating the backward castes further.”

Signals of reconciliation?

Then there is Rakesh Pandey, a former BSP MP and father of BJP’s Ambedkar Nagar candidate Ritesh Pandey. Despite his son’s political alignment, Rakesh Pandey recently praised Raja Mehmoodabad—a close aide of Akhilesh—raising speculation of a potential return to the SP fold.

Vinod Chaturvedi, the fourth spared MLA, had a quiet meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, triggering buzz of a possible switch. However, he has not made any public remarks against SP. Insiders say backchannel reconciliation efforts are still on.

Strategic leniency or political compulsion?

The SP’s internal balancing act is clear: punish those who are openly defiant, but keep the door open for those who may still be politically useful. “This is not just about discipline—it’s about managing caste equations and leaving room for political negotiation,” says Bhadra.

Yet, the move has left party workers confused and critics calling out the double standards. If cross-voting was the crime, why are only some being punished?

As the 2027 battle draws closer, the Samajwadi Party’s challenge will be to manage dissent without derailing the fragile caste coalition it is trying to stitch together. And the unanswered question—why only three—may haunt the party longer than expected.

The expelled leaders

Manoj Kumar Pandey: A four-time MLA from Rae Bareli’s Unchahar constituency and a prominent face in the party, Pandey had been drifting away from SP since the Rajya Sabha elections, where he was accused of cross-voting in favour of the BJP. Ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, speculation was rife that he might get a BJP ticket from Rae Bareli. Though the ticket eventually went to BJP’s Dinesh Pratap Singh, Pandey kept a visible distance from Singh’s campaign. His discontent prompted Union Home Minister Amit Shah to visit his residence, after which Pandey joined BJP’s election campaign in the region.

Abhay Singh: The MLA from Gosainganj, known for his aggressive style, had been under the SP’s watch for allegedly undermining the party's PDA (Pichhda, Dalit, Alpsankhyak) plank, which SP president Akhilesh Yadav has championed as a counter to BJP's Hindutva narrative.

Rakesh Pratap Singh: Representing Gauriganj in Amethi, Singh has also been critical of party decisions in recent times and was seen warming up to BJP circles.