PM Modi addresses a rally in Haldia Picture by Rupesh Khan

In his Haldia address, Modi accused Mamata of scuttling a meeting he had wanted to convene to assess the post-Fani situation in Bengal.

“I had wanted to hold a meeting with the state to discuss the impact of the cyclone and what more the Centre could provide by way of help for Bengal. But speed-breaker Didi denied that as well,” he said.

The Prime Minister arrived at the Kalaikunda airbase around 11am on Monday and, according to sources, waited for an hour for the meeting but no state government official turned up.

Responding to the allegation, Mamata said she did not consider Modi a Prime Minister anymore. “He writes from Delhi yesterday (Sunday). He was supposed to address a rally in Jhargram earlier (on Sunday). Instead, he comes today (Monday), lands at Kalaikunda and wants to hold a meeting on cyclone damage. Why should we attend? Are we his servants that we have to be at his beck and call? Now, he will allege that I have not extended cooperation,” she said.

“He is coming for campaign and he wants to hold an official meeting, and then say he had called but the state did not respond. During elections, I will not share a platform with him. I do not consider him Prime Minister now,” she added. “When the new Prime Minister comes, we will speak with that person.”

Attacking Modi for bringing Fani into the campaign discourse, Mamata said he should remember that she, too, understood politics.

“He will have tea and I will have to sit beside him and have pictures taken? Why should I do that?” she asked.

“He has come on a polling day, just before the next phases (of voting). He is bypassing the chief minister and calling the chief secretary. The chief secretary reports to the chief minister and not the Prime Minister,” she added.

Narendra Modi has said he called up Mamata Banerjee twice to discuss the destruction caused by Cyclone Fani, but there was no response.

However, the Bengal chief minister said she was unable to attend the calls as she was monitoring the situation from Kharagpur then.

Modi said Mamata was “arrogant” and she retorted that the Prime Minister was “more destructive than” Fani.

“I went to Odisha to review the situation in the aftermath of the cyclone. I had called Didi twice to discuss with her. I waited for her to call me back, but there was no response,” Modi said at an election rally in Haldia on Monday.

“I was worried about the people of Bengal and wanted to know the impact here. I tried to contact Mamatadidi as she is the chief minister, but politics was more important for her…. Such is the arrogant Didi,” he added.

In reply, Mamata said at a rally on Monday: “The recent cyclone had the potential to cause great damage. I stationed myself at Kharagpur. I oversaw the disaster preparedness of all departments concerned and encouraged people to stay safe. When he called, I was not in Calcutta. I was in Kharagpur and could not speak to him.”

The Trinamul chief went on: “Very often, people ask me what is more destructive and dangerous, a calamitous storm or Narendra Modi? I always say, Modi. He is more destructive than even the worst of storms.”