Overview On Tuesday, January 27, 2026 , Samajwadi Party chief and former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Akhilesh Yadav , met with West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress chairperson, Mamata Banerjee , at the State Secretariat in Kolkata. The meeting took place ahead of the Assembly polls in West Bengal, signaling potential political alignments and strategies. Key Developments Political Support Akhilesh Yadav stated that Mamata Banerjee is the primary leader taking on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the national level. He emphasized her courage and commitment to fighting for the people. Allegations of Electoral Malpractice NRC in Disguise: Yadav claimed that the ongoing special intensive revision (SIR) is essentially the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in disguise. Voter Deletion: He alleged that the Election Commission and the BJP are colluding to delete as many voters as possible through the SIR process. Citizenship Proof: Many people were allegedly forced to prove their citizenship during this exercise. Concerns about Secularism Yadav accused the BJP of toying with the secularism of the country, stating that more voters were deleted from electoral rolls in Uttar Pradesh than in West Bengal. Criticism of Central Agencies ED Raids: Yadav addressed the Enforcement Directorate (ED) raids on the office and residence of I-PAC director. Banerjee's Intervention: He congratulated Mamata Banerjee for her intervention during the raids on January 8 , praising her courage in fighting for the people. BJP's Use of Agencies: He alleged that agencies like the ED and CBI are being used by the BJP for political gains, citing the example of Maharashtra. Implications and Analysis Potential Political Alliance The meeting between Akhilesh Yadav and Mamata Banerjee suggests a potential alliance or understanding between the Samajwadi Party and the Trinamool Congress. This could have implications for national politics, particularly in the context of opposition unity against the BJP. Electoral Integrity The allegations of voter deletion and misuse of the SIR process raise serious concerns about electoral integrity. These claims need to be investigated to ensure free and fair elections. Federalism and Centre-State Relations The criticism of central agencies like the ED and CBI highlights the ongoing tensions between the central government and state governments. The alleged misuse of these agencies for political purposes undermines the principles of federalism. UPSC Relevance This news article is relevant for the UPSC Civil Services Exam, particularly for GS Paper 2 (Polity and Governance) and GS Paper 3 (Economy and Internal Security) . It touches upon important topics such as electoral processes, federalism, and the role of central agencies. Important Facts Meeting Date: Tuesday, January 27, 2026 Key Figures: Akhilesh Yadav , Mamata Banerjee Organizations: Samajwadi Party, Trinamool Congress, BJP, Election Commission, Enforcement Directorate (ED), CBI, I-PAC Key Issues: NRC, SIR, Voter Deletion, Secularism, Central Agencies