Modi calls Mamata ‘power-intoxicated’, says she fears BJP’s rise in Bengal

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday called West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee “power-intoxicated” and accused her of throttling democracy, as a bitter row raged over violence at BJP president Amit Shah’s roadshow in Kolkata the previous day.

Modi at Basirhat

Campaigning in Basirhat for the final phase of the Lok Sabha election in the state, Modi said Banerjee was frightened by the BJP’s rise in Bengal. He alleged that her party’s workers were carrying guns and bombs and were bent on destruction. Claiming a BJP victory in the 2019 election, he said the people of Bengal had decided to end what he called her oppressive rule and were now more confident about their votes.

Referring to the row over an image of the Chief Minister, he challenged Banerjee to make an image of him and gift it to him, promising that he would not file a complaint and would treasure the gift.

Blame game

The two parties spent Wednesday blaming each other for the violence. Amit Shah addressed a press conference after Banerjee filed an FIR against him, saying he was not afraid and that Trinamool workers had attacked the roadshow.

The Trinamool leader then held her own press conference, attacking the BJP’s strong-arm tactics and releasing videos which, her party said, showed BJP workers damaging a bust of the Bengal Renaissance reformer Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar.

What happened next

When results were declared on 23 May 2019, the BJP had won 303 of the 543 Lok Sabha seats and Modi was sworn in for a second term on 30 May 2019.

See also: Bharatiya Janata Party.

Originally published on 15 May 2019. Rewritten on 9 October 2026.

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