Akhilesh Yadav meets Mamata in Kolkata, attacks BJP over Bengal polls
Synopsis
Addressing the media after the meeting, Yadav said he had closely monitored the Bengal elections due to the BJP's conduct during the campaign.
Key Takeaways
We all saw the election.
I was watching it very closely because of the way the Bengal election was going to take place, the language used, and the behaviour of the Bharatiya Janata Party.
In the past, whatever the BJP has done in Bengal, they did less in Uttar Pradesh, but they did the trial there,
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday, 7 May met Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo Mamata Banerjee at her Kalighat residence in Kolkata, extending solidarity following the TMC's crushing defeat in the West Bengal Assembly elections and launching a sharp attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the conduct of the polls and the post-election situation in the state. The BJP's landmark victory ended the TMC's 15-year rule in West Bengal, marking a seismic shift in the state's political landscape.
The Meeting and What Was Said
Yadav also met TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee during the visit. On arrival, the SP chief draped a shawl around Mamata Banerjee's neck and said,
Point of View
Asking,
NationPress
28 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
It was assured that numerous companies would remain here and manage the security arrangements even after the election. Where are those companies now?
These allegations, though unverified independently, echo a pattern of opposition charges against the BJP's use of central forces in state elections — a debate that has recurred across Manipur , Tripura , and Goa in recent years. Mamata Banerjee: 'A Fighter', Says Yadav Yadav praised Banerjee's political resilience, saying the BJP views her as a formidable challenge because she represents women and is a strong voice against the ruling party at the Centre.
Mamata Banerjee is a fighter and is not someone who will lose hope. She bothers the Bharatiya Janata Party because she represents half the population,
he remarked. The SP chief's visit signals a broader effort by non-BJP parties to consolidate around leaders who have suffered electoral reverses but retain mass political capital. The Call for Opposition Unity Yadav made a direct appeal for opposition consolidation, framing the challenge in existential democratic terms.
The effort will be that everyone works together because democracy has to be saved. They want to destroy democracy and take away our right to vote,
he said. This comes amid heightened political tension in West Bengal , where the transition of power following the BJP's victory continues to remain politically charged, with reports of post-poll violence adding to the friction. Broader Context The Yadav-Banerjee meeting is the latest in a series of cross-party outreach efforts by opposition leaders seeking to build a unified front ahead of future electoral battles. The SP, which governs no state at present, has been actively positioning itself as a pan-national opposition voice, particularly in the wake of its own mixed performance in Uttar Pradesh . Whether such solidarity translates into a durable political alliance — or remains symbolic — will be closely watched in the months ahead.
Why did Akhilesh Yadav meet Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata?
Akhilesh Yadav visited Mamata Banerjee at her Kalighat residence on 7 May to extend solidarity after the TMC's defeat in the West Bengal Assembly elections and to discuss opposition unity against the BJP. The meeting also included TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee.
What did Akhilesh Yadav allege about the BJP's conduct in West Bengal?
Yadav alleged that the BJP deployed 3 lakh central forces selectively, posted officers with instructions to ensure electoral victory, and created an atmosphere of fear and chaos during and after the polls. He also questioned the withdrawal of security forces after the elections.
What happened to the TMC in the West Bengal elections?
The BJP won a landmark victory in the West Bengal Assembly elections, ending the TMC's 15-year rule in the state. The scale of the defeat was described as crushing, though Yadav told Mamata Banerjee, 'Didi, you have not lost.'
What did Akhilesh Yadav say about saving democracy?
Yadav called for all democratic forces to unite, saying 'democracy has to be saved' and accusing the BJP of attempting to destroy democratic rights including the right to vote. He framed opposition unity as an urgent national imperative.
