Prime Minister Modi held his first election rally in West Bengal on Sunday. (PTI photo)
The Left was trying very hard to do it, so was the Congress. But Narendra Modi has pushed the Narada sting issue into Centrestage in Bengal.
"People are taking money in front of the camera. Earlier Saradha, now Narada...the whole leadership...in front of a camera. Was this the parivartan (change) you wanted?" Mr Modi said at his first election rally in Bengal.
The Prime Minister was referring to a sting operation by a news portal, Narada, which showed top leaders of the Trinamool allegedly accepting bundles of cash purportedly as bribes for favours.
In 2014, before the general elections, PM Modi had taunted Mamata on Saradha, mocking her for her painting which the owner of the Saradha group had allegedly bought for over Rs 1 crore. He had also warned of action against those involved in the Saradha scam.
Mamata Banerjee has reacted saying she would tie a rope round PM Modi's waist and put him behind bars.
However, in the last four years, investigation into Saradha has been sluggish mostly, leading to Opposition allegation that Mamata Banerjee and Narendra Modi had reached an understanding: Go slow on Saradha in return for Trinamool support to the government in the Rajya Sabha.
Which is why, after Mr Modi's stinging attack on Mamata Banerjee, CPM lawmaker Ritanrata Banerjee said, "It's all got up. In 2014 also, Mr Modi attacked Trinamool but took no action on Saradha."
Ms Banerjee was in Purulia, campaigning, and not available for comment. At three meetings in the district earlier, Ms Banerjee had slammed the Left and Congress alliance, coining a new term, 'congred' punning on 'comrade'. She spent just one line on BJP saying they have no presence in Bengal.