Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav has voiced his support for West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in the lead-up to the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections, predicting that the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) "conspiracy" will fail. Speaking on Thursday, January 1, 2026, Yadav asserted his confidence in Banerjee's victory with a significant margin.

Yadav also predicted that the BJP would face defeat in Uttar Pradesh. He has been a vocal critic of the BJP's governance in UP, accusing them of injustice towards the people. In late 2025, Yadav alleged that the deletion of nearly 2.89 crore voters' names, a majority reportedly BJP supporters, would significantly impact the party's prospects in UP. He estimated that this could translate to a loss of approximately 61,000 votes per seat for the BJP, making it difficult for them to retain power in the state.

This is not the first time Yadav has extended his support to Banerjee. In 2020, he declared that the Samajwadi Party would support the Trinamool Congress (TMC) in the West Bengal Assembly polls, citing concerns about the BJP's attempts to "polarise" voters. In the past, Banerjee has also shown her support for Yadav.

In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the Samajwadi Party and Congress alliance secured 43 seats in Uttar Pradesh. Yadav has been working to consolidate his position in Uttar Pradesh, particularly focusing on caste dynamics in anticipation of the 2027 elections. He is also trying to expand his party's appeal beyond the Yadav community.

Meanwhile, in West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee remains a central figure in the Trinamool Congress. Despite facing criticism, she continues to mobilize support and challenge the BJP. According to reports, voices within the opposition are projecting her as a potential national leader.

The political landscape in West Bengal has been heating up, with increased activity and exchanges between key figures from the TMC and BJP.