West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday replied
to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s political challenge ahead of assembly elections
in the state, as she proceeded to tackle the latter through issues of development,
women’s safety and ‘parivartan’ (change) in West Bengal.

Earlier in his rally in Kolkata’s Brigade Parade Ground on
Sunday, Modi had listed out largely the same themes, prompting responses as
well as allegations from Banerjee, who claimed that BJP’s goal of securing West
Bengal in the upcoming election was far from reality.

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“’Khela hobe’! We are ready to play. I am ready to play
one-on-one… If they (BJP) want to buy votes, take the money and cast your
vote for TMC”, Banerjee was quoted by news agency ANI as saying, reiterating
arguably the most popular battle-cry for Trinamool Congress in recent months.

“Poribortan (change) will happen in Delhi, not in Bengal. He
(PM Modi) said there is no women security in Bengal but look at UP, Bihar &
other states. Women are safe in Bengal”, ANI further quoted the Chief Minister
as saying regarding Modi’s claims of bringing ‘Asol poriborton’ (real change)
post-election victory in his rally.

The TMC Supremo also slammed Modi over his accusations of
corruption against her.

“India knows about a syndicate that is Modi and Amit Shah’s
syndicate”, she said.

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With the assembly elections slated to begin on March 27 in
the state, both parties in recent months have been preparing for the showdown.

The previous rally of the Left Front-Congress-ISF alliance
in Brigade Ground on February 28, too, was successful in drawing out people by
the thousands, marking themselves in the process as a force to be reckoned with
in the coming polls.