TMC: PM free to visit WB anytime

Kolkata, March 3: The Trinamul Congress on Wednesday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi is free to visit the state for BJP’s election campaign “20 times or more” to see for himself the spree of development under the TMC dispensation and compare it to that of states ruled by the saffron party.

West Bengal minister and party spokesman Bratya Basu told reporters that Modi is welcome to attend as many meetings, say 20 or more, he wishes to and come to the state as many times he wants to see for himself how Bengal has left behind states like Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh on development parameters.

Basu was replying to a query whether eightphase Assembly polls in the state, beginning on March 27, would enable BJP heavyweights to address multiple meetings in different parts of the state. “We don’t bother. May be they (Narendra Modi and Amit Shah) want to see for themselves how much Bengal has progressed after TMC came to power in 2011... how roads look like, how power cut has become a rarity, how people in rural areas are getting better amenities and how states like UP and MP are lagging behind,” Basu said.

BJP sources said Modi is slated to address multiple rallies during the eight-phase polls in the state stretching a little over a month. Leaders like Shah and J.P. Nadda will also address several meetings as well as other BJP heavyweights like Yogi Adityanath.

Asked about two-time TMC MLA from Pandabeswar and former Asansol mayor Jitendra Tiwari joining the BJP on March 2, Basu said, “It is the culture of the saffron party to admit people having tarnished reputation with open arms”.