Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav remained absent from election campaigning in West Bengal despite extending public support to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her party, the All India Trinamool Congress, ahead of the second phase of the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections.
The absence has raised questions regarding the strategy and internal dynamics of the opposition alliance INDIA Bloc.
Expectations had been that Akhilesh Yadav would campaign in West Bengal in support of the Trinamool Congress. However, he neither addressed rallies nor participated in any public election programmes in the state.
In contrast, several opposition leaders, including Tejashwi Yadav, Hemant Soren, and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, campaigned in West Bengal in support of the Trinamool Congress.
Earlier this year, Akhilesh Yadav met Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata, leading to expectations of closer political coordination. However, no active campaign participation followed as the election approached.
Political analysts have cited multiple possible reasons for his absence. One factor identified is the direct political contest between the Trinamool Congress and the Indian National Congress in West Bengal. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi criticised the Trinamool Congress government during his campaign.
Analysts have indicated that active campaigning by Akhilesh Yadav in favour of the Trinamool Congress could have affected coordination within the opposition alliance and had implications for political alignments in Uttar Pradesh.
Another factor cited is strategic consideration ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.
Samajwadi Party chief spokesperson Rajendra Chaudhary stated that Akhilesh Yadav had extended support to the Trinamool Congress through social media and public statements. He said that support does not necessarily require physical presence in campaign activities and affirmed that Akhilesh Yadav’s support remains with Mamata Banerjee.
The Samajwadi Party also stated that linking Akhilesh Yadav’s absence to Uttar Pradesh elections or political differences would not be appropriate.
Within the INDIA Bloc, parties are adopting different strategies, with some leaders campaigning actively in West Bengal while others have limited their role to expressing support.
Political experts stated that the variation in approach within the alliance could be interpreted differently depending on the election outcome.
Analysts also indicated that Akhilesh Yadav’s decision to stay away from campaigning in West Bengal may be connected to political considerations in Uttar Pradesh, particularly in relation to future alignments with the Congress. The Samajwadi Party, however, maintained that the decision is not linked to Uttar Pradesh politics.
