Akhilesh Yadav meets Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata

New Delhi, Delhi, IndiaUpdated: Dec 02, 2017, 04:34 PM IST

On BJP's victory in the local body elections in UP, he said that the BJP winning percentage is 46 per cent in areas wherever polls were conducted via EVMs and 15 per cent when it was done by ballot papers. Photograph:(Twitter)

Former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav met West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata on Saturday fuelling speculation of a possible front against the BJP in the next Lok Sabha polls.

Yadav, who was in the city for a party conference, met Mamata Banerjee at her residence.

There is a need for all secular parties to unite against communal forces, the SP chief said.

Whenever I have visited Bengal, I have met Didi (Mamata Banerjee). Her secular battle is not hidden from anyone and Samajwadi Party stands with her in her battle: Former UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav in #Kolkata pic.twitter.com/4DVjYU4eDm
— ANI (@ANI) December 2, 2017

When asked whether he would form a joint front with the West Bengal CM, he said "Whenever I have visited Bengal, I have met Didi (Mamata Banerjee). Her secular battle is not hidden from anyone and Samajwadi Party stands with her in her battle,'' former UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav said after meeting the West Bengal CM.

A warm meeting with the very kind and respectful Chief Minster, @MamataOfficial at her residence in Kolkata today. pic.twitter.com/pN3Mc89km0
— Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) December 2, 2017

Asked about BJP's victory in the local body elections in UP, he said that the BJP winning percentage is 46 per cent in areas wherever polls were conducted via EVMs and 15 per cent when it was done by ballot papers.

"I will ask the people to check that the BJP has bagged 46 per cent votes in places where elections were held using EVM and only 15 per cent votes where the polls were held through ballot paper," he said.