Three MLAs expelled from Samajwadi Party for anti-party activities

Lucknow: The Samajwadi Party on Monday expelled three sitting MLAs — Abhay Singh (Gosaiganj), Rakesh Pratap Singh (Gauriganj), and Manoj Kumar Pandey (Unchahar) — citing anti-party activities and ideological deviation.

The announcement was made via an official statement on the party’s X handle.

The statement cited the legislators’ alleged alignment with “communal, divisive, and negative ideologies”, contradicting the party’s “socialist, harmonious, and progressive” values.

“In view of their consistent opposition to the interests of farmers, women, youth, entrepreneurs, working professionals, and the PDA (Pichhda, Dalit, Alpsankhyak) alliance, and their support to ideologies that go against the SP's core principles, the party has decided to expel the following MLAs in the public interest – Shri Abhay Singh (Gosaiganj), Shri Rakesh Pratap Singh (Gauriganj), and Shri Manoj Kumar Pandey (Unchahar),” the party said in its post.

The Samajwadi Party said the three expelled MLAs were earlier given a “grace period” to reconsider their stance and rejoin the party fold but failed to do so.

“That grace period has ended. Going forward, those involved in anti-people actions or who defy the party’s ideology will have no place in the SP,” the party said, also cautioning them to “remain trustworthy, wherever you are.”

The trio had openly rebelled during the 2024 Rajya Sabha elections, cross-voting in favour of the BJP despite being SP legislators. While the SP had the numbers to secure three Rajya Sabha seats, cross-voting by at least seven MLAs enabled the BJP’s eighth candidate, Sanjay Seth, to win—costing the SP its third seat.

Since then, the expelled MLAs have been seen aligning with the BJP, attending its events and publicly distancing themselves from the SP’s line. Despite their removal from the party, they technically continue to be listed as SP legislators in Assembly records unless further legislative action is initiated.

(inputs from IANS)