PM REACHES OUT TO MAMATA'S WOMEN AND MINORITY VOTE-BANKS

Prime Minister Narendra Modi hit the campaign trail in West Bengal even before the Lok Sabha elections were announced and from his utterances, made it clear about how the BJP would fight the electoral battle in the state.

In his twin public meetings in Arambag and Krishnagar on Friday and Saturday, the Prime Minister repeatedly emphasised how the Trinamool Congress has given a short shrift to the women and the minorities—read, Muslims—of Bengal and had patronised criminals who preyed on them and indulged in unbridled corruption.

BJP sources said that their party’s outreach during the Lok Sabha campaign would prominently feature the stories of the women and minorities who have faced atrocities at the hands of the Trinamool Congress leaders.

“We are collating all the television bites which show that Muslims and women were targeted in Bengal with Mamata’s blessings,” a source said. “TMC now stands for Tu, Main Aur Corruption hi Corruption (You, me and corruption and corruption),” PM Modi said on the second day of his Vijay Sankalp Yatra in Nadia’s Krishnagar and asked for all 42 seats from Bengal in the next Lok Sabha polls.

During his speeches, he stated that although the women of Sandeshkhali “cried out for justice,” the state’s ruling party “looked elsewhere.” “The people of Bengal gave a huge mandate to the Trinamool again and again, but have been deceived every time. Today, the Trinamool is synonymous with atrocities and betrayal,” he said. “TMC vishvaasghaat, atyachar, bhrashtachar, parivarvaad (TMC means betrayal, atrocities, corruption and dynasty politics). They want to keep the people of Bengal poor so that they can carry on with their dirty games,” he said.