Prime Minister Narendra Modi today took a sharp dig at Mamata Banerjee over her appeal to Muslims to vote in bulk for her party and keep the BJP away, saying that the chief minister’s desperate appeal indicates that she has lost the support of the community and that Muslim votes were “slipping out of her hands”.

“Didi’s exit is imminent. That is clear after the first two phases of polling,” PM Modi said, while campaigning in north Bengal’s Cooch Behar as the third phase of elections in the state are in progress.

Countering the communal politics charge that his party is often accused of, the prime minister said the world would have turned upside down if the BJP had made a similar appeal to Hindus and the party would have faced the ire of the Election Commision, media and the Opposition parties.

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Mamata Banerjee, at a rally in Hooghly’s Tarakeswar on Sunday said, “I appeal to my minority brothers and sisters with folded hands. That shaitan who is fighting with the BJP’s money… do not listen to him and let minority votes be divided.”

The Muslim votes are critical for Mamata Banerjee as they comprise 27% of Bengal’s population and the entry of two Muslim leaders — All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen or AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi and a religious leader from Furfura Sharif — is posing a threat to a bulk vote in her favour.

The prime minister said that he would return their love “with interest”.

PM Modi was unsparing when he gave point-by-point rebuttal to Mamata Banerjee’s attack.

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On Mamata Banerjee’s “Are BJP leaders God?” remark, the prime minister said,”There is no need to trouble God to find out who is losing and who is winning. Janata Janardhana (public), in the form of God, has given their response, it is known which way the wind is blowing.”

The BJP on Monday approached the Election Commission seeking action against Mamata Banerjee, alleging she violated the Representation of the People’s Act by asking Muslims to come together and vote for her party TMC in the state assembly polls.