Takeaways from Modi, Mamata rally fireworks: CAA-NRC to Sandeshkhali, INDIA to agencies

Raising the poll temperature in West Bengal, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee hit the campaign trail in Cooch Behar Thursday, holding their rallies at two separate venues in the crucial constituency.

Cooch Behar is among the three seats in North Bengal going to the Lok Sabha elections in the first phase on April 19.

PM Modi held his rally at Rash Mela ground in Cooch Behar town for the BJP’s candidate and sitting MP Nisith Pramanik, the Union minister of state for home affairs. Mamata addressed a public meeting at Mathabhanga in the constituency for the TMC’s Jagadish Barma Basunia, the sitting Sitai MLA and Rajbanshi leader. Here are some key takeaways from the two rallies.

This was PM Modi’s first rally in Bengal after the poll schedule was announced by the Election Commission (EC) on March 16. He had addressed four rallies in the state during 1-9 March, the first at Arambagh in Hooghly district, the second at Krishnanagar in Nadia district, the third at Barasat in North 24 Parganas and the fourth one at Siliguri in Darjeeling district.

At the Cooch Behar rally, Modi showcased his government’s works in the last ten years, stressing on the need to elect a strong government at the Centre. “For India to become the third largest economy in the world, you need to elect a majboot sarkar (strong government). A government which is not only stable but works round the clock for the people,” he said.

Modi attacked the Mamata-led TMC dispensation over corruption as well as atrocities against women, referring to recent incidents in Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas, where allegations of sexual abuse against some TMC leaders recently surfaced.

Modi also slammed the Opposition INDIA bloc for “spreading