Following a significant electoral defeat in West Bengal, where the Trinamool Congress (TMC) led by Mamata Banerjee secured only 80 seats against the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) 207 seats, Banerjee is set to meet Akhilesh Yadav (president of the Samajwadi Party) in Kolkata. This meeting, scheduled for Wednesday, is the first high-profile interaction among opposition leaders post-election results. Banerjee has expressed her intent to strengthen the INDIA alliance, a coalition aimed at countering the BJP's rising influence. Yadav, addressing his party members in Lucknow, framed the upcoming 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections as crucial for democracy. He accused the BJP of eroding democratic values and alleged electoral malpractice during the West Bengal elections. Yadav also reiterated his support for a 33% quota for women, contingent on a caste census to ensure fair representation. Political analysts view this meeting as a strategic effort to unify opposition forces against the BJP, particularly as the party intensifies its focus on Uttar Pradesh following its victory in Bengal.