Sanjay Raut (leader of Shiv Sena [UBT]) criticized Mamata Banerjee for not listening to Rahul Gandhi's warnings regarding alleged election theft by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the 2026 West Bengal elections. Raut stated that Gandhi's repeated claims about 'vote chori' (vote theft) should have prompted Banerjee to engage in discussions with him to strategize against the BJP's electoral tactics. He emphasized that the TMC's failure to act on this advice led to their defeat, which he described as a significant mistake. Banerjee had previously alleged that the BJP 'looted' more than 100 seats, labeling the election results as 'immoral' and 'illegal.' Raut also supported Gandhi's assertion that similar tactics were used by the BJP in other states, including Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh. He warned that internal conflicts among opposition parties weaken their collective strength against the BJP, urging them to unite ahead of future elections. Raut's comments reflect a growing concern within the opposition about the BJP's dominance in Indian politics and the need for a cohesive strategy to counter it.