Veteran politician Kiranmay Nanda, long considered a crucial political bridge between the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC), has made a series of remarks that are now raising fresh questions about the cohesion of the INDIA bloc and the state of relations between SP president Akhilesh Yadav and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The comments, reportedly made in Kolkata and during coverage of an Opposition meeting in New Delhi, appear to diverge from the publicly cordial posture the SP leadership has maintained.

What Nanda Reportedly Said

Speaking in Kolkata after this year's West Bengal Assembly election, Nanda reportedly described Mamata Banerjee's response to the electoral outcome as being in 'denial mode', asserting that the people of West Bengal had rejected her party. He also reportedly suggested that Akhilesh Yadav's expressions of solidarity with Banerjee were driven more by political compulsions within the INDIA bloc than by personal conviction.

Notably, Nanda was present in Kolkata at the same time as Akhilesh Yadav but did not accompany the SP chief during his visit to Mamata Banerjee's residence — an absence observers found conspicuous given his long-standing role as a facilitator between the two parties.

Nanda's Criticism at the INDIA Bloc Meeting

Separately, at an INDIA bloc meeting in New Delhi last week, Mamata Banerjee publicly criticised Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the West Bengal electoral rolls. While Banerjee directed her fire at the Election Commission, Nanda reportedly turned his criticism inward — blaming Banerjee herself for 'damaging' Opposition unity.

Akhilesh Yadav did not attend that meeting. Opposition leaders clarified that he was engaged with party responsibilities in Uttar Pradesh, specifically related to the filing of nominations for Rajya Sabha by-elections. Yadav subsequently posted messages on social media that, according to reports, appeared to signal cordial ties within the alliance — a contrast to the tone of Nanda's reported remarks.

Historical Context and the WBSP Connection

Nanda also reportedly referenced past fault lines, including the case of Chand Mohammad, a former West Bengal Socialist Party (WBSP) MLA from Bhagabangola in Murshidabad district, who moved to the SP before eventually joining the Trinamool Congress. He is also said to have drawn attention to long-standing differences between Mamata Banerjee and the Indian National Congress (Congress), despite their joint participation in Opposition platforms.

These comments carry particular weight given that Nanda had previously described himself publicly as a facilitator of the SP-TMC relationship and had spoken favourably of inter-party cooperation. The shift in tone — if indeed it reflects a genuine change in sentiment — has triggered speculation about whether the two parties' alignment within the INDIA bloc is as solid as official statements suggest.

Who Is Kiranmay Nanda

Born in East Midnapore on 16 May 1944, Nanda built a decades-long political career in West Bengal, first entering the state Assembly as a Janata Party candidate in 1977. He later rose to prominence within the WBSP, an influential Left Front constituent, and served as Fisheries Minister for nearly three decades in governments led by Jyoti Basu and Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee.

The WBSP first merged with the SP in the 1990s, with Nanda serving as general secretary. After a period of separation, the merger was formalised again in 2010. Nanda subsequently became a trusted associate of Mulayam Singh Yadav and served as an SP member of the Rajya Sabha from Uttar Pradesh between 2012 and 2018.

During the party's internal power struggle of 2016–17, Nanda sided with Akhilesh Yadav over Mulayam Singh Yadav — a consequential move. As party Vice-President, he convened the Lucknow convention that elevated Akhilesh as National President, lending institutional legitimacy to the younger Yadav's claim despite resistance from the senior faction.

What This Means for the INDIA Bloc

It is important to note that there is no direct evidence that Nanda's comments reflect any formal shift in SP policy. Reports covering his criticism have stressed that it remains unclear whether his remarks represent the official position of Akhilesh Yadav or are purely personal observations. Nevertheless, the remarks are being closely watched, as they come at a sensitive moment for Opposition consolidation ahead of state elections. How the SP and TMC publicly manage this episode could offer a sharper signal of the INDIA bloc's internal fault lines than any joint press statement.