PM Modi on Rahul Gandhi fighting from Rae Bareli: 'I had predicted before Shahzade will...'

Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed an election rally in West Bengal's Bardhaman on Friday (May 3). He arrived in state capital Kolkata on Thursday evening and stayed overnight at the governor house. The Prime Minister will address three public meetings in Krishnanagar, Purba Bardhaman and Bolpur Lok Sabha constituencies today.

“PM Modi reached the Raj Bhavan around 10.20 pm. Security arrangements have been tightened around the governor house and other parts of the city,” an official said. The PM was welcomed by Governor CV Ananda Bose at the Raj Bhavan.

PM Modi addresses in Bardhaman

The Prime Minister slammed the TMC and Left in Bengal and alleged that the Hindus have been made a second-class citizen in the state.

"An MLA of TMC gave a statement yesterday that they will throw Hindus in Bhagirathi… What kind of politics is this? Why have Hindus become second-class citizens in Bengal? TMC has problem with the construction of Ram Temple in Ayodhya, and Ram Navami processions in Bengal…In Sandeshkhali, our Dalit sisters faced atrocities but TMC tried to save the accused Shahjahan Sheikh," PM Modi said.

"TMC, Left and Congress do not have a vision for development. You know very well what the Left, Congress and TMC can do to a state. Tripura, nearby, was destroyed by the Leftists. But in the last 5 years, BJP has changed the life of entire Tripura. When the leftists left, the sun of development started rising," he added.

Recalling the Congress leader's "vote jihad" remark, PM Modi said that the TMC and Congress were silent on the matter. He urged the people to vote for the country.

"The game of vote jihad was played silently behind the curtains for decades in our country. They have become so frustrated that for the first time they are announcing to conduct vote jihad on mic. Congress' royal family, TMC's family, Left's family are silent. All partners of I.N.D.I.A bloc are silent on the vote jihad matter. We will cast our votes for the country," he said.

PM Modi takes dig at Rahul Gandhi's candidature from Rae Bareli

PM Modi took a sharp dig at Rahul Gandhi who will contest from Rae Bareli besides the Wayanad seat and asked him "not to be scared and flee".

"I had said earlier that Shahzade will lose in Wayanad and as soon as polling ends in Wayanad, he will start looking for a third seat. His supporters were saying that he will come to Amethi. But Shahzade is so scared of Amethi that he fled to Rae Bareli. These people tell everyone 'Daro mat'. I tell them 'Are Daro mat, bhago mat' (don't be scared, don't flee)," he said.

PM Modi's remarks came after Congress on Friday announced Rahul Gandhi's candidature from Rae Bareli. Gandhi family loyalist KL Sharma is contesting from Amethi against Smriti Irani.

ALSO READ | Who is KL Sharma, first 'non-Gandhi' candidate from Amethi in over two decades to take on Smriti?

BJP vs TMC candidates

The BJP has fielded Ashim Kumar Sarkar against TMC’s Sharmila Sarkar in Purba Bardhaman. The party has given ticket to Amrita Roy who will be up against TMC’s Mahua Moitra who was expelled from Lok Sabha in alleged cash-for-query scam. Priya Saha has been pitted against TMC’s Asit Kumar in Bolpur.

The TMC is contesting on all 42 Lok Sabha seats in Bengal despite being a part of the Opposition's I.N.D.I.A bloc. Mamata Banerjee has ruled out the alliance with the Congress and Left in the state declaring to go solo in the polls. The BJP, too, is contesting on its own in the state.

All three seats will go to polls in the fourth phase of elections on May 13. The results of the seven-phased general elections will be announced on June 4.

(With inputs from agencies)