ARABIAN TIMES NEWS NETWORK
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav strongly criticized the BJP during his visit to West Bengal on May 7, accusing the ruling party of weakening democracy and creating fear among voters during elections. After meeting West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at her Kalighat residence in Kolkata, Yadav said his party stands firmly with her in the fight to protect democracy and the Constitution. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Akhilesh Yadav alleged that the BJP had “destroyed democracy” in Bengal and damaged democratic institutions across the country.
“The BJP cannot tolerate women rising in politics,” Yadav said, accusing the party of being anti-women. Referring to political developments in Rajasthan and Delhi, he claimed that women leaders within the BJP were not given proper respect or authority. He said Mamata Banerjee represents “half the population” and claimed that the BJP targets strong women leaders because of its “feudal and male-dominated mindset.” He also raised serious questions about the fairness of elections in the country.
Yadav alleged that the Election Commission was no longer functioning impartially and said voters in Bengal had been pressured during the election process. According to him, protecting democracy and the Constitution has now become a responsibility for all opposition parties and citizens. He further claimed that the BJP had already experimented with similar election strategies during the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections and bypolls before using them in Bengal. He referred to a photograph from a UP bypoll that allegedly showed police threatening women voters with revolvers.
Accusing the BJP of spreading hatred and divisive politics in Bengal, Yadav said election speeches by BJP leaders were filled with “poison and negativity.” He described the election process as functioning like a “multi-layered election mafia,” alleging that several institutions failed to perform their constitutional duties fairly. Commenting on the violence reported in Bengal after the elections, Akhilesh Yadav questioned the role of central security forces deployed in the state. According to him, opposition supporters were deliberately prevented from casting their votes.
He said the BJP-led central government had promised strong security arrangements during the polls, yet violence still erupted. “Where are those security companies now?” he asked. He also pointed out that more than three lakh central security personnel had been deployed during the Bengal elections, including many from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Yadav alleged that a parallel security structure had been created alongside the state administration and accused the BJP and Election Commission of working together to target opposition voters. Akhilesh Yadav met Mamata Banerjee at her residence and honored her with a shawl, telling her, “You have not lost.” Abhishek Banerjee was also present during the meeting.
