Modi, Mamata Banerjee face-off in West Bengal campaign

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee exchanged barbs today at simultaneous election rallies in Bengal.

PM Modi added a variation to Banerjee's "khela hobe (game on)" jab at him, saying it's "khela sesh (game over)" if players continue to criticize umpires, a reference to the Trinamool's frequent criticism of the Election Commission, reports NDTV.

Banerjee targeted the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) while campaigning in the North 24 Parganas district, just 58 kilometers from Tarkeshwar, where PM Modi was giving an election speech, by using the Trinamool's main weapon: calling the BJP a "outsider" party in Bengal.

"The BJP wants to divide Bengal... These people want to end Bengal, its language, and its culture," said Ms Banerjee, who was in a wheelchair and nursing her plastered leg. "I implore all minority brothers and sisters not to allow their votes to be divided," she said.

On April 6, the third and final phase of Bengal's eight-phase election will take place. On Thursday, the second phase of voting in Nandigram, where Ms Banerjee is running, took place.

PM Modi has been on a whirlwind tour of Bengal, bolstering the BJP's campaign to topple Banerjee's Trinamool Congress administration, which has been in power for ten years.

"Didi says people take money to attend BJP rallies. Didi, Bengalis are self-respecting people. Didi, you have insulted the people of Bengal with this statement. Did anyone come here today for money?" PM Modi said in Hooghly today.

"A major reason for Didi's bewilderment is her report card of 10 years. Old industries have been shut down. Possibilities of new industries, new investment, new business and employment have also been closed down," the Prime Minister said.