Prime Minister Narendra Modi with actress-turned-politician Rupa Ganguly during his election campaign for the West Bengal Assembly polls in Howrah on Thursday. (PTI photo)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee has virtually "accepted defeat", which was evident in the manner in which the first three phases of elections were held in the state.
"Today another phase of election has ended. Earlier when polls ended, we used to hear it was largely peaceful. But here, after the end of the third phase today, we hear news that many were beaten up, killed and of booth capturing," the PM said at an election rally in support of BJP candidate Rupa Ganguly for the Howrah (North) Assembly constituency.
"This only shows that Mamata didi has accepted defeat," PM Modi said.
"When this is the case, then one does anything and everything as the end comes near," he said.
Praising Ms Banerjee during her initial political career, he said she used to fight incessantly against injustice and corruption.
"It was heart-warming to see then," he said adding, "Didi, now I feel sad that after becoming Chief Minister, what paribartan (change) has happened in you (referring to the Saradha scam and Narada tapes)."
"Is this is the change that Didi had wanted before coming to power?" he asked.
"Those faces seen in Saradha are also seen in Narada tapes and the faces in Narada are seen in the Vivekananda flyover collapse," PM Modi said.
"The flyover collapse is a symbol of widespread corruption. It took away lives of so many innocent people," he said adding, "Both Left and Trinamool are responsible for the flyover collapse as work had started during the former's regime and supposed to get completed under the latter."