States » NorthPosted at: Nov 1 2026 6:30PM


Two prominent western UP leaders set to return to Samajwadi Party after Diwali

Lucknow, Nov 1 (UNI) In a potential setback to the BJP and the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD), two former Uttar Pradesh ministers are set to return to the Samajwadi Party (SP) shortly after Diwali.
SP president Akhilesh Yadav is preparing a significant political move in western Uttar Pradesh by bringing back former Cabinet Minister Sahab Singh Saini and former minister Chaudhary Nirpal Singh, who currently serves as the RLD's national in-charge of its sports cell.
Both leaders have served as ministers in the previous SP government led by Akhilesh Yadav before leaving the party a few years ago.
The two former ministers have publicly indicated their plans to return to the SP, saying they would rejoin the party immediately after Diwali.
Sahab Singh Saini's departure could pose a challenge for the BJP, which may have to reassess its political strategy to maintain its support among backward communities in western Uttar Pradesh.
For the RLD, Nirpal Singh's exit would mean the loss of a prominent organisational figure who was entrusted with national responsibility for its sports wing. Meanwhile, the SP is hoping to strengthen its organisational network and expand its social support base in western Uttar Pradesh with the return of the two leaders.
Sahab Singh Saini, a prominent leader of the Saini community, has had a long association with the Samajwadi Party dating back to the Mulayam Singh Yadav era. He served as a Cabinet Minister in the Akhilesh Yadav government.
He joined the BJP in July 2023 as part of the party's efforts to strengthen its support among backward communities, particularly the Saini community, in western Uttar Pradesh. His reported decision to return to the SP, nearly three years later, could prove to be a political setback for the BJP.
The Nakur Assembly constituency is believed to be a key factor behind Saini's proposed return. According to sources, he has reportedly been assured an SP ticket from Nakur for the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections. BJP's Mukesh Chaudhary is the sitting MLA from the constituency, which has a significant Saini voter base.
Chaudhary Nirpal Singh, meanwhile, is considered as one of the active faces of the RLD in western Uttar Pradesh. An internationally recognised hockey player, he previously served as a Minister of State in the Samajwadi Party government.
His association with the sporting fraternity and his connections with athletes have remained an important part of his public and political profile.
UNI MBD AAB
Tags: #Two prominent western UP leaders set to return to Samajwadi Party after Diwali
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