Mamata alters schedule to have last word to take on PM Modi in Bengal

Kolkata: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch his Lok Sabha poll campaign in West Bengal on Wednesday with two rallies - one in Siliguri and second at the Brigade Parade Ground in Kolkata.

West Bengal has 42 seats, of which the BJP is eyeing more than 20.

Giving a good fight, the Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has tweaked her campaign schedule so that she could have the last word in today’s verbal contest.

The TMC campaign, however, was to be officially launched on April 4. Banerjee was expected to launch her campaign in Cooch Behar on Thursday, instead the rally will now be held on Wednesday.

The timing of the rallies has been coordinated in such a way that Banerjee can begin as soon as PM Modi finishes the address.

Derek O’Brien, TMC leader said, “It is not about the first word or last with Mamata Banerjee, it is about conviction.” He added that nobody has tweaked any programme.

“This is an election season. She is our star campaigner by far and she is in demand," he added.

While the PM will address the rally around 1 pm in Siliguri, Mamata’s rally at Dinhata will begin at 3 pm.

In 2009 Lok Sabha elections the BJP won 6.14 per cent of the votes and secured only one seat. Five years later, the figures climbed to 17.02 per cent and two seats. In comparison, TMC secured 31.18 per cent of the votes and 19 seats in 2009 which rose to 39.79 per cent votes and 34 seats in 2014.

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