Kolkata, May 6Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday accused West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of being involved in “cheap politics” over cyclone Fani.

The Prime Minister said he tried to get in touch with Banerjee and enquire about the damage, not once but twice. However, Banerjee snubbed him.

“Speed-breaker Didi is more interested in doing politics. I waited for her to call back. But she didn’t,” he said at a rally at Tamluk, 90 km from Kolkata. Tamluk, in the East Midnapore district, was hit by the cyclone.

Modi’s comments came in the backdrop of the Trinamool Congress’ (TMC) allegations that the PM had flouted the federal structure, bypassed the Chief Minister, and called the Governor KN Tripathi to enquire about the damage caused by Fani.

A day later, senior officials at the Centre said the CM’s office was called on twice but the calls were not followed up.

On Monday, Modi put on record the Centre’s stand while reiterating he will help the people of Bengal even though Banerjee was not cooperating. Not only has Banerjee refused to meet the PM for a review meeting (regarding Fani), sources said officials in the State have also refused the same.

Earlier in the day, Modi met the Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik and took stock of the cyclone-ravaged State.

Calling Banerjee “arrogant”, the PM said: “I am just back from Odisha after reviewing the post-cyclone situation. I had called her, but didi is so arrogant that she didn’t speak to me. This shows how much Mamata didi cares about you. It is this attitude which has put brakes on West Bengal’s development.”

Mamata hits back

During an election rally in the State, Banerjee alleged that Modi’s call for a meeting was “all drama for publicity”.

“How dare you call for a meeting with the Chief Secretary and senior officials without the CM. Don’t do this drama in Bengal. Mr Expiry PM, you are not worthy. We don’t want your sympathy,” she said.

PM Modi, at another rally at Jhargram, 170 km from Kolkata, claimed Banerjee and her party will not win even 10 seats in the State.

“Her dream of becoming the PM has gone for a toss. She won’t be able to bag even 10 seats here,” Modi said.

Jhargram, a predominant tribal and adivasi area, is part of the State’s once famous red corridor Jangalmahal — an area known to be the hotbed of Left- Wing Extremism in and around 2010.

It has seen the growing presence of the BJP with its vote share varying between 17-27 per cent since the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. The growth was most prominent in the 2018 Panchayat elections when the party won nearly 30-40 per cent of the seats. Of the 16 Zila Parishad seats, the BJP won three; of the eight Panchayat Samiti seats it won two; and of the 701 Gram Panchayat seats, it secured 329.

Modi referred to Jhargram as one of the places that has “stood up to TMC’s oppression and strong-arm tactics”.

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