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Rajpal Saini’s anticipated SP induction has put the Mirapur Assembly constituency in focus. (Img: X)
Muzaffarnagar: Former Member of Parliament Rajpal Saini is set to return to the Samajwadi Party (SP) on Friday, October 16, 2026, after distancing himself from Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) activities following the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. His expected return to the SP has drawn attention to the emerging political equations in western Uttar Pradesh, with Saini being viewed as a potential contender for the party ticket from the Mirapur Assembly constituency ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.
Saini has reached Lucknow along with his supporters to join the party. Samajwadi Party Muzaffarnagar district president Zia Chaudhary has confirmed his proposed induction. Chaudhary has also met SP chief and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, adding to the political significance of the development.
Although the SP has not officially announced its candidate for Mirapur, Saini’s possible candidature has become a subject of political discussion. His return could influence the party’s electoral calculations in Muzaffarnagar district, where caste dynamics, local support networks and the distribution of tickets are expected to play an important role in the next Assembly elections.
Originally from Luhsana village in the Budhana area of Muzaffarnagar, Rajpal Saini has had a long political career spanning the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Samajwadi Party, Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) and BJP.
Saini entered electoral politics in 1999 when he contested the Muzaffarnagar Lok Sabha seat on a BSP ticket. He finished third with 163,721 votes. Three years later, he secured his first Assembly victory in the 2002 Uttar Pradesh elections, contesting from the then Morna constituency on a BSP ticket. He polled 40,579 votes and defeated Samajwadi Party candidate Sanjay Chauhan. Following his victory, he was appointed a minister in the state government.
His electoral fortunes changed in the 2007 Assembly elections, when he lost to Qadir Rana, who contested on an RLD ticket. Saini received 38,947 votes. In 2010, he was elected to the Rajya Sabha as a BSP nominee, strengthening his presence in state and national politics.
Saini did not contest the 2012 Assembly elections following constituency delimitation, as he was serving as a Rajya Sabha member. In the 2017 Assembly elections, he fielded his son, Shivan Saini, from the Khatauli constituency on a BSP ticket. Shivan finished third.
Ahead of the 2022 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, Rajpal Saini left the BSP and joined the Samajwadi Party. However, the SP’s alliance with the Rashtriya Lok Dal affected the party’s electoral arrangements in Khatauli, which went to the RLD.
Saini subsequently contested the Khatauli Assembly seat on an RLD ticket after party chief Jayant Singh selected him for the contest instead of Shivan Saini. He lost to BJP candidate Vikram Saini.
Before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Rajpal Saini left the RLD and joined the BJP. However, following the parliamentary elections, he was increasingly seen as absent from BJP political programmes. His expected return to the SP now marks another shift in his political affiliations and has revived speculation about his electoral ambitions in western Uttar Pradesh.
Saini’s expected induction into the SP has brought the Mirapur Assembly constituency into focus. The party has yet to announce its official nominee, and his potential candidature remains speculative rather than confirmed.
For the Samajwadi Party, candidate selection in the Muzaffarnagar region will be important as political parties begin preparations for the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections. Saini’s experience in the BSP, SP, RLD and BJP, along with his previous electoral contests in the district, could figure in discussions over the party’s local strategy.
His return also comes amid a broader round of political realignments in Uttar Pradesh, where leaders switching parties and seeking fresh electoral opportunities have become part of the early preparations for the Assembly polls.
The latest development follows other reported inductions into the Samajwadi Party. On Thursday, former BJP MLA Rajiv Khanna from Moradabad reportedly joined the SP. Bhawani Shukla and his five sons also joined the party, according to reports.
Other reports mentioned BJP leaders Rajiv Channa and Manmohan Saini joining the SP in the presence of Akhilesh Yadav. These developments have drawn attention to the party’s efforts to expand its political presence ahead of the 2027 elections.
However, the SP has not officially announced candidates for the constituencies linked to these leaders. Their entry into the party should therefore be distinguished from any formal decision on ticket allocation.
With Rajpal Saini expected to rejoin the Samajwadi Party, the political spotlight is now on his possible role in the Mirapur contest and the party’s wider electoral strategy in western Uttar Pradesh. The final impact will depend on the SP’s candidate selection, local political equations and developments leading up to the 2027 Assembly elections.
