Kolkata sources stated that Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had a stinging reply to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's revelation that the firebrand leader sends him kurtas and gifts every year. She said without naming PM Modi "We welcome guests with rosogollas and gifts but not a single vote will be given (to BJP)". Reportedly Ms. Banerjee said it is Bengal's culture to greet guests on "special occasions." However, she ruled out possibilities of voting for the ruling party.
Furthermore, Ms. Banerjee made the comments at a rally in Serampore in Hooghly district after PM Modi's interview to actor Akshay Kumar aired by TV channels in which the prime minister mentioned her gifts to him. PM Modi said in the interaction "People will be surprised and he should not say this in the election season, but Mamata didi sends me gifts every year. She still sends me one or two kurtas that she picks herself a year". Apparently, PM Modi told Akshay Kumar that Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina sent him new types of sweets every year. "Once Mamata found out, she also started sending me sweets once or twice a year".
Moreover, the interview was followed by PM Modi launching harsh attacks at Ms Banerjee in Bengal where he followed "speed breaker didi with "sticker didi" and these phrases have been used by the prime minister to slam the Trinamool chief in his recent speeches. Perhaps the Congress took notice of the interaction and said this hints at a secret tie-up between the BJP and Trinamool. Bengal Congress President Somen Mitra said this proved the "friendly relationship" between PM Modi and Ms Banerjee.
