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West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has objected to Prime Minister Narendra Modi being referred to as the 'PM' in the Bharatiya Janata Party's election campaign for the ongoing Lok Sabha elections.
Banerjee, who is also the supremo of the Trinamool Congress (TMC), questioned the legality of Modi being addressed as the 'PM' during the party's campaign, arguing that he should be referred to as a BJP leader.
She expressed surprise at seeing Modi being referred to as the 'PM' in his party's campaign advertisements, stating that he has the right to campaign and participate in election programs, but should adhere to the model code of conduct.
Banerjee emphasized that she is being referred to as the TMC chairperson by her campaign managers and party members, even though it is not an assembly election, and urged Modi to follow the same protocol.
The TMC chief asserted that the BJP will not return to power for a third term and that the INDIA bloc, a group of non-BJP parties, will form the government at the Centre.
Banerjee also expressed her regret at not being able to attend the crucial INDIA bloc meeting on June 1 due to the seventh phase of general elections in Bengal.
She explained that with voting scheduled in her state on that day, she had informed the bloc that she would not be able to attend, adding that elections were also scheduled in other states like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
Continuing her attack on the BJP, Banerjee urged people not to fall for any 'communal rift trap' set by the party.
She clarified that if part of her speech is clipped and shown to make her appear anti-religion, it hurts, and that at a recent meeting on development initiatives, she said that listing all their initiatives would take more time than reading religious books.
Banerjee added that most of that speech was chopped off to give the impression that she disrespected religion, which was then made viral to show her as anti-God.