Akhilesh Yadav backs TMC and DMK takes swipe at Congress over alliance shift
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Friday reaffirmed support to the Trinamool Congress and DMK following their defeats in recent Assembly elections and took an indirect swipe at the Congress over its shifting political alliances.
The Congress recently parted ways with its long-time ally DMK in Tamil Nadu and extended support to actor-politician Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK).
Taking a dig at the Congress, Yadav posted photographs on social media platform X from his meetings with Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee and DMK president MK Stalin.
“We are not the ones who leave during difficult times,” the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister wrote.
Akhilesh Yadav had met Mamata Banerjee at her Kalighat residence in Kolkata on Thursday and expressed solidarity with the TMC leadership after the party’s defeat in the West Bengal Assembly elections.
During the meeting, Yadav alleged that the Bengal polls were conducted on the “Uttar Pradesh model” through intimidation and manipulation.
The SP chief claimed that opposition polling agents were threatened and voters faced fear during the election process.
“What happened in Uttar Pradesh was repeated in Bengal. Opposition polling agents were threatened, and votes were conducted under fear. Central forces were used to ensure the defeat of the opposition,” he alleged.
The meeting between Yadav and Banerjee assumes significance amid efforts by opposition parties to reassess political strategies after setbacks in multiple states and ongoing uncertainty within the INDIA alliance.
Mamata Banerjee has also vowed to strengthen the opposition bloc following the Trinamool Congress’ defeat in West Bengal.
The BJP secured a massive victory in West Bengal by winning 207 seats in the 294-member Assembly, ending the TMC’s uninterrupted 15-year rule in the state. The Mamata Banerjee-led party was reduced to 80 seats.
In Tamil Nadu, the DMK managed to win only 59 seats in the 234-member Assembly, suffering a major electoral setback.
The Trinamool Congress, DMK and Samajwadi Party are all key constituents of the opposition INDIA alliance.
