Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said in one of his
rallies in West Bengal’s Bankura that Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress
Supremo Mamata Banerjees’ remarks about the EVM were in fact a signal that she
was “witnessing her defeat”, further urging citizens of Bengal to come forward
and vote without any fear in the upcoming election, reported news agency ANI.

“Didi is already asking questions on EVM. It’s the same EVM
that kept her in power for 10 years. She is already witnessing her defeat in
the upcoming elections. Every person in Bengal must exercise their power to
vote without any fear”, ANI quoted Modi as saying.

Also read: West Bengal polls: BJP’s election promises ahead of its manifesto release

In his rally on Sunday, Modi floated the idea of a corruption-free
system by bringing in the BJP government in West Bengal. Using the idea of the
said government being synonymous to development in the state, he highlighted upon
the necessity to bring in such a change.

“To get corruption-free systems, it is important to bring
BJP government. To give top priority to development, BJP government is
necessary for Bengal”, Modi was further quoted as saying.

The Chief Minister’s reply to this came later in the day, as
during her rally in Purba Medinipur district’s Nandakumar, Banerjee hit back at
Modi, saying he was a “ruthless, cruel” Prime Minister.

“BJP party means Bharatiya Joghonno (bad) Party. I was Lok
Sabha MP seven times and I have seen many prime ministers. But I have never
seen such a ruthless, cruel PM. BJP is a party of monsters, demons, Ravana,
Duryodhana, Dushasana, unrest & terror”, she was quoted by ANI as saying.

Also read: Mamata Banerjee blames herself for not recognising ‘true face’ of Adhikari family

Political scenario in the poll-bound state has increasingly
intensified, with BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari’s father and TMC MP Sisir
Adhikari joining the BJP earlier on Sunday.

Significantly, the Adhikari family is based in Purba Medinipur
and wields considerable influence in the district, which also houses the Nandigram
constituency, a battleground between Banerjee and Suvendu Adhikari.