New Delhi, May 9 (IANS) BJP leader Syed Shahnawaz Hussain on Saturday launched a sharp attack on Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav over his recent visit to Kolkata and meeting with Trinamool Congress leaders following the West Bengal Assembly election results.

Speaking to IANS, Hussain said, “Akhilesh Yadav has become a tourist these days. Wherever there is a defeat, Akhilesh Yadav goes there to shed tears and console his allies over their loss. But his pain is also that his ally, the Congress party, jumps ship first whenever there is a defeat in the INDIA alliance.”

Taking a swipe at the Congress party’s role within the Opposition bloc, he further added, “In West Bengal too, Congress abandoned Mamata Banerjee and did not stand with her. Even before the results, Rahul Gandhi had started making statements against Mamata Banerjee. And when the DMK lost, Congress was the first to jump off the sinking boat…”

The remarks come days after Akhilesh Yadav met Mamata Banerjee and Trinamool Congress national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee at the Chief Minister’s Kolkata residence on May 7.

Following the meeting, Yadav alleged electoral fraud by the BJP and the Election Commission during the recently concluded West Bengal Assembly elections. He claimed that “multi-layered mafiagiri” involving multiple players had influenced the electoral process in the state.

Addressing the media after the meeting, the Samajwadi Party chief said Opposition parties needed to unite against alleged electoral irregularities and collectively resist what he termed as attempts to undermine democratic processes.

The meeting between the SP and TMC leadership had triggered fresh political discussions around Opposition unity within the INDIA bloc after the election results. However, BJP leaders have continued to dismiss the allegations and accused Opposition parties of blaming institutions after electoral defeats.

The BJP’s criticism also reflects growing friction within Opposition ranks, with political parties trading accusations over strategy and leadership following setbacks in several state elections.

–IANS

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