Prime Minister Narendra Modi and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee traded barbs at separate poll rallies ahead of the upcoming assembly elections.
PM Modi accused the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) of 'cruelty' and alleged that Mamata Banerjee's party has only inflicted 'nirmamta' (cruelty) on Bengal.
He highlighted a downward trend in the state's economy and its contribution to national gross domestic product (GDP), saying Bengal's contribution has slid to mere five per cent from 12 per cent earlier.
However, he said, a regime change would ensure that West Bengal scales new heights.
Mamata Banerjee, on the other hand, accused the BJP of deleting names of more than 90 lakh people from the voter lists to grab power in the state.
She alleged that the BJP is 'paying money to buy votes' and bringing 'outsiders from UP, Bihar to manipulate polling.'
The TMC chief also accused the BJP of 'destroying the federal structure of the country' by threatening officers and 'torturing' people in BJP-ruled states for speaking in Bengali.
