Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday voiced his party's continued support for Trinamool Congress (TMC) Supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her "battle against the communal forces" in the state.
"Whenever I have visited Bengal, I have met Didi (Mamata Banerjee). Didi's struggle is not hidden from anyone, and the Samajwadi Party stands with her in her battle against the communal forces here," Yadav told reporters after meeting her in Kolkata.
Yadav also lauded Banerjee for her work in West Bengal.
"Her secular battle and her work for the progress of Bengal is a huge work in my opinion," Yadav said, and added, "This is one region where major secular forces will join hands."
The former Uttar Pradesh chief minister also commented on the results of Uttar Pradesh Civic polls, wherein the BJP emerged victorious, winning 14 out of 16 municipal corporations.
"As for UP polls, it was publicised that 16 elections took place out of which 14 was won by BJP. Then what was left for others? But if we closely look at the elections, then it's the BJP's slyness that it shows only that portion (of the result) that benefits it," he said.
Earlier in the day, the former UP chief minister joined the line of other opposition party leaders in accusing the BJP of tampering with Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) to sway election results in their favour.