Kolkata: Stressing that he will personally work towards the development of the state of West Bengal when the BJP-led NDA government comes to power after counting of votes for Lok Sabha Elections on June 4, Prime Minister Narendra Modi in an exclusive conversation with Republic Bangla on Tuesday said, "I will do whatever is required to develop Bengal".

Underlining that Bengal’s industry perished under the ‘bandh culture’ of the Left and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress (TMC) in the state, PM Modi assured that his government – in its third term – will work towards making Bengal an industrially-developed state like Gujarat.

Sharing his Gujarat experience on the sidelines of the mega road show ahead of the last phase of polling for the ongoing parliamentary elections, the prime minister told R Bangla: "In that state [Gujarat], there is a drought-like situation for seven out of 10 years. Gujarat does not have the minerals that Bengal has… It only has salt. Even then, we worked hard and created an industrial state out of it".

PM Modi noted that Bengal is a state which is “historically rich” in natural resources, and urged the youth of Bengal to overthrow the “corrupt government” in the state.

“In earlier times, the Left made sure that the industries here were shut down and consequently went to other states. The people then trusted the TMC to bring about some change, but each investment needs security and faith that there is stability in the policies. And that is why the biggest priority should be the removal of Mamata-led TMC government in the state”, he said.

In his big statement to Republic Bangla ahead of the counting of votes for Lok Sabha, PM Modi further asserted that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s best performance will be in Bengal.

Kolkata witnessed multiple high-octane and colourful road shows by PM Modi and Mamata Banerjee even as campaign frenzy reached its zenith ahead of the last phase of general elections.

In his first ever road show in Kolkata, PM Modi led a vibrant cavalcade from the base of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's statue at Shyambazar Five Point Crossing that terminated at the ancestral residence of Swami Vivekananda on Simla Street in North Kolkata, with people gathering in impressive numbers to greet the leader en route.

The political extravaganza was organised in support of BJP candidate from the Kolkata Uttar seat, Tapas Roy, and his counterpart from the Dum Dum constituency in the northern fringes of the city, Silbhadra Dutta.

Ahead of the event, the PM visited Maa Sarada's residence at Bagbazar and paid homage to the Holy Mother who was the spiritual consort to the 19th Century Hindu mystic Ramakrishna Paramhansa.

PM Modi also paid tribute to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose at his landmark statue at Shyambazar before commencing his road show.

Accompanying the PM were prominent state BJP leaders Sukanta Majumdar and Suvendu Adhikari, who were seen standing on both sides of the PM in his open-hooded vehicle.

The road show began at around 7:10 pm and slow-moving vehicles took about an hour-and-a-half to cover a distance of a little over two kilometres to reach their destination at Vivekananda’s residence where he paid homage to the spiritual leader.

PM Modi stood atop a decorated vehicle adorned with flowers, images of the PM and BJP's election symbol.

As the convoy made its way through the streets, Modi waved at the crowd, which gathered on both sides of the barricaded Bidhan Sarani. At various points along the route, the PM greeted people with folded hands.

Women supporters, dressed in saffron saris, also participated in the procession.

Chants of ‘Jai Shri Ram’ and ‘Phir Ek Baar Modi Sarkar’ reverberated in the air as the vehicle passed by, with many onlookers capturing the event on their mobile phones.

Houses along the route were brightly lit and decorated with flowers amid chanting of hymns.

Earlier in the day, CM Mamata Banerjee held two road shows in support of TMC candidates in Dum Dum and the two Kolkata seats, covering on foot nearly nine kilometres.

In the first road show, the TMC supremo walked from Birati Banik More to Airport gate number two on Jessore Road, a distance of nearly four kilometres, along with party leaders and workers.

The road show in Dum Dum Lok Sabha constituency was held in support of the TMC's veteran leader and candidate Saugata Roy, who is seeking a fourth consecutive term from the seat.

Apart from Roy, ministers Sujit Bose and Chandrima Bhattacharya also accompanied Banerjee in Dum Dum, while in south Kolkata, city mayor and minister Firhad Hakim walked along with her.

In the second road show, Banerjee walked from Entally Market in the northern part of the city and to Ballygunge Phari in south Kolkata, nearly five kilometers away.

This rally was organized in support of TMC's Kolkata Dakshin candidate Mala Roy, who is seeking a second term from the constituency, and Kolkata Uttar candidate Sudip Bandyopadhyay, fighting for a straight third term from the seat. 

(With inputs from PTI)