Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday alleged that the Congress was placing vote bank politics above national interest while it was in power at the Centre. He also claimed that the the opposition party and its allies were rattled by the trends that have emerged from the first two phases of the Lok Sabha polls. "... The trends of the first two phases of elections have left them rattled. They no more have the temerity to demand proofs of the valiant cross-border operations conducted by our armed forces," the prime minister said.
Earlier in the day, PM Modi addressed a public meeting in West Bengal, where he asked the voters to put brakes on "Speed-breaker Didi" Mamata Banerjee's rule and end the "politics of threat, loot and corruption". Addressing a rally in West Bengal's south Dinajpur district, PM Modi said: "Don't you want this politics of threat, loot and corruption to end? Then come out from every household in every village, town, nook and corner and give the Trinamool a befitting reply for unleashing a rule of terror. Rise up Bengal give your response on May 23". The pubic meeting at Narayanpur ground has been organised in support of BJP candidate Sukanta Majumdar, a reputed botanist of Gour Banga University who is taking on sitting Trinamool Congress MP and noted theatre activist Arpita Ghosh. The BJP is dreaming big in Balurghat, once a stronghold of the Left. The BJP is hoping to wean a substantial part of the Left vote bank which has seen a lot of erosion across the state, as also get a large chunk of the substantial tribal vote in the constituency.
This was PM Modi's fifth visit to the state this year, and the seventh public meeting in Bengal in around two and a half months, according to news agency IANS. After Bengal, PM Modi will visit Bihar to address three rallies in 1200 Araria, Etah and Aonla.
