Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday met West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata, where a closed-door meeting was held between the two leaders beginning around 3:15 PM. TMC Official Sources said during his meeting with Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav told Abhishek, "What a commendable battle you all have fought." Akhilesh told Mamata Banerjee, "Didi, you have not lost."
Three leaders exchanged greetings
According to the party's official sources, the meeting witnessed a cordial atmosphere, with TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee also present. The three leaders exchanged greetings, and at the start of the meeting, Akhilesh Yadav and Abhishek Banerjee hugged each other, party sources said.
TMC official sources said the discussion carried a positive tone, quoting Akhilesh Yadav as telling Abhishek Banerjee, "What a commendable battle you all have fought." He also reportedly told Mamata Banerjee, "Didi, you have not lost."
I hope all will wake up after Bengal polls: Akhilesh
Akhilesh Yadav says, "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."
People of BJP who are masculine and feudal: Akhilesh
Akhilesh Yadav says, "...They do not like Didi (Mamata Banerjee) because Didi likes to fight... She is being hated by them, because she is the representative of half the population. The people of the BJP who are masculine and feudal, can never see a woman growing. They did not let a woman become the Chief Minister in Rajasthan... they made only one women Chief Minister, who has no power..." He adds, "We are with Didi in this fight because we have to save democracy and the constitution. If they take away our voting rights, then what democracy is left? Nobody has destroyed democracy as much as the BJP has. The BJP can go to any extent for power. They can break any law. We saw very closely in Uttar Pradesh what they did there. They have done it here."
Meeting comes amid BJP's spectacular win in West Bengal
The meeting comes amid the BJP's spectacular win in West Bengal with 207 seats declared on Monday. TMC, which has been in power in West Bengal for the past 15 years, won 80 seats.
Earlier in the day, Akhilesh Yadav alleged that democracy in West Bengal had been undermined, claiming that voters were pressured during elections and did not exercise their franchise freely.
Akhilesh accuses BJP of weakening democratic institutions
Speaking to reporters, he accused the BJP of weakening democratic institutions. "No one has probably damaged democracy as much as the BJP has," Yadav said, adding that the party "cannot tolerate women's rise in politics" and that voting took place under coercion rather than free will.
He also questioned incidents of political violence in the state, including attacks on party workers and damage to party offices, asking who would be held responsible for security lapses during the polls.
Akhilesh further alleged that an excessive deployment of central forces during the elections created a "parallel structure," claiming personnel were brought in from multiple states, including Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, to manage polling arrangements.
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