Akhilesh Yadav Meets Mamata Banerjee, Alleges Electoral Irregularities in Bengal Polls

Kolkata, May 2026 : Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday met Mamata Banerjee at her Kalighat residence in Kolkata and expressed solidarity with her following the Trinamool Congress’ setback in the West Bengal Assembly elections. The meeting came amid growing political exchanges among Opposition parties over the conduct and outcome of the recently concluded polls.

The interaction between the two leaders was also attended by Abhishek Banerjee, who welcomed the Samajwadi Party chief at Mamata Banerjee’s residence. Sources said the discussion focused on the election results, the future course of Opposition unity, and concerns regarding the electoral process.

During the meeting, Akhilesh Yadav reportedly assured Mamata Banerjee of his support and told her that she had “not lost,” alleging that the electoral outcome was influenced by irregularities and manipulation. The Samajwadi Party leader strongly criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Election Commission of India, claiming that the integrity of the electoral process in West Bengal had been compromised.

Speaking to media persons after the meeting, Yadav said Opposition parties across the country must come together to oppose what he described as “election fraud.” According to him, Mamata Banerjee had previously won elections convincingly when the voting process was conducted fairly, but this time the atmosphere and administrative mechanisms were different.

He alleged that a “multi-layered system” involving political influence, misuse of administrative machinery, and coordinated interference had affected the electoral process. Yadav claimed that such practices could not have been imagined earlier and accused various agencies and individuals of working together to influence the results in favour of the ruling party at the Centre.

Drawing comparisons with elections in Uttar Pradesh, Yadav said similar tactics had allegedly been used there in the past. He claimed that what happened in Uttar Pradesh was effectively a “trial run,” which later evolved into a broader strategy in other states. According to him, the BJP had learned from previous elections and refined methods that allegedly influenced polling and counting processes elsewhere.

The Samajwadi Party chief also raised concerns over the deployment of central forces and administrative interventions during the Bengal elections. He said that despite repeated complaints made by Opposition parties regarding officials during the Uttar Pradesh elections, no major action had been taken against senior bureaucrats or police officers. In contrast, he alleged that the electoral administration in West Bengal was heavily controlled and influenced during the Assembly polls.

Yadav further questioned the extended deployment and leave granted to central forces during the election period, claiming such practices were unprecedented. He suggested that the role played by administrative institutions and security agencies during the elections should be examined carefully.

Emphasising the importance of democratic institutions, Yadav said Opposition parties must work together to protect democracy and safeguard the voting rights of citizens. He alleged that attempts were being made to weaken democratic systems and suppress the voices of ordinary voters, especially those belonging to backward classes, Dalits, and minority communities.

According to Yadav, if citizens are deprived of their voting rights, other constitutional rights could also come under threat. He asserted that concerns regarding voter participation, electoral rolls, and polling data needed to be investigated thoroughly.

The Samajwadi Party leader also claimed that available electoral data reflected unusual voting patterns and outcomes that raised questions about the process. He called for a detailed inquiry into the technology and software allegedly used during elections and demanded greater transparency from the Election Commission.

Yadav said the issue had already been raised in Parliament and reiterated that the Election Commission should conduct a comprehensive investigation into the allegations being made by Opposition parties.

The meeting between Akhilesh Yadav and Mamata Banerjee is being viewed as a significant political gesture at a time when Opposition leaders are attempting to strengthen coordination and present a united front on issues related to democracy, elections, and governance.