Kolkata: Three days after the BJP achieved a thumping majority, winning 70% of the seats to end the 15-year tenure of Trinamool Congress (TMC) in West Bengal, Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav called on the sulking outgoing chief minister Mamata Banerjee at her Kalighat residence on Thursday.
Even after the TMC was reduced to 80 seats while BJP surged to 207 in the 294-strong Assembly, Mamata refused to resign, alleging that BJP and Election Commission of India (ECI) had ‘looted’ over 100 seats.
In a display of solidarity with Mamata, Akhilesh flew down to Kolkata and held a closed-door meeting with Mamata and Abhishek Banerjee.
Akhilesh greeted Abhishek, considered by many as TMC’s second-in-command, with a warm hug. The SP chief was overheard praising TMC’s resilience as he told Abhishek, “What a commendable battle you all have fought.”
He then approached Mamata and draped a shawl around her neck, saying: “Aap haari nahi hain Didi (You have not lost Didi).”
Mamata replied, “Yes we haven’t lost… I have not lost.”
Warmly welcoming Shri @yadavakhilesh ji, at Kalighat.
Today, our Hon’ble Chairperson Smt @MamataOfficial & our Hon’ble National GS Shri @abhishekaitc met with him and had an elaborate discussion.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude for his support. pic.twitter.com/nkHCrPKzrL
— All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) May 7, 2026
Not only was TMC handed a drubbing by the BJP, Mamata lost to leader of Opposition and her former party colleague Suvendu Adhikari in her home constituency Bhabanipore.
The TMC is mulling a multi-pronged legal and political response to the West Bengal results, alleging massive irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process and the conduct of ECI.
Akhilesh also lashed out at the BJP and ECI.
“A terrible thing happened here (West Bengal). If the votes are cast out of fear of bullets, then who will win? You are scaring the voters with bullets and the Election Commission is not impartial. It is working with the BJP,” the former UP chief minister told reporters.
“When the UP by-elections were held, I and all my party members took a shroud to the Lok Sabha so that I could give it to the Speaker, so that it reaches the Election Commission. Because we said that the Election Commission is dead,” Akhilesh said.
“I hope that the people of the country will wake up after this. Whatever happened in Bengal… can you imagine that over 3 lakh central forces were deployed in Bengal and selective officers were posted? I have also heard that the officers were lured that if they help them win the elections, then we will be paid well… and you will see that all the big officers who are getting the elections done from here will get some big post later,” Akhilesh added.
Mamata had earlier found support from the Congress, with Rahul and Sonia Gandhi acknowledging TMC’s vote theft charge.
The seemingly fragmented INDIA bloc seems to have been revitalised on this issue, at least for the time being.
