“I am the Target for many…” Akhilesh Yadav Meets Mamata Banerjee, Vows an United INDIA Fight Against ‘Vote-Chori’

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav called on Trinamool Congress chief and outgoing West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at her Kalighat residence on Thursday, in what is being seen as the first high-profile opposition meeting following the BJP’s landslide victory in the West Bengal Assembly elections.

The BJP’s decisive win, with over 200 seats, brought an end to the Trinamool Congress’ 15-year rule in the state and triggered widespread soul-searching among opposition parties. Yadav’s visit, accompanied by warm exchanges with Banerjee and TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee, signalled an early attempt to rebuild opposition coordination against the ruling party at the Centre.

Emerging from the closed-door meeting, Yadav made it clear that the poll outcome did not represent a defeat for Banerjee or her party. “Didi, aap haari nahi hain,” he told her, according to those present. Addressing the media later, the SP chief elaborated: “This has not been the loss of Mamata Banerjee. She was fighting against the Election Commission of India and the other machineries.”

Yadav drew direct parallels with alleged irregularities in his home state of Uttar Pradesh. He strongly criticised what he termed “vote chori” during the recent polls and vowed to keep the issue alive in Parliament. “Vote chori happened in Uttar Pradesh as well. I have taken the matter to Parliament before and will do so again in the future,” he said.

The Samajwadi Party leader also asserted that he expects to remain a prime target for the BJP. “The BJP will target me because I have defeated them in Uttar Pradesh and also in Ayodhya,” Yadav remarked, referring to his party’s strong showing in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections in key constituencies including the Ram temple city.

When asked whether he had any specific advice for the Congress, which has previously faced friction while building alliances with other opposition parties, Yadav steered the conversation towards unity on core democratic concerns. He called for all opposition forces to stand together on the contentious Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls as well as the broader issue of alleged vote theft.

“The opposition must come together on the SIR issue and the issue of vote chori,” he stated. “Only a united front can protect the democratic process.”

Political observers view the meeting as a strategic move to consolidate the INDIA bloc in the wake of the Bengal setback. Banerjee has so far refused to tender her resignation immediately and has called it her “mark of protest against large-scale electoral manipulation”.

Yadav’s visit comes just days after the results were declared and is expected to be followed by similar outreach efforts by other opposition leaders. Both parties are understood to have discussed the need for a coordinated response to what they describe as systematic challenges to free and fair elections across the country. Previously Congress MP and leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi and also Congress veteran Sonia Gandhi had reached out to Mamata Banerjee on May 4 - the results day to express solidarity with TMC after the poll debacle. “Everyone stands by us and are together. This is an attack on democracy and constitution. Had I lost in election, I would have accepted. But they have looted 100 of our seats. Election Commission is the villain and this was like a betting”, Mamata Banerjee had said on May 5 during her first press conference after the election results.