Narendra Modi sends 'friend request' to Mamata Banerjee

Says Centre is discriminating against non-Congress ruled states

West Bengal Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee, appears to have found a friend in Gujarat Chief minister Narendra Modi.

Modi, who is in Kolkata to address industrialists on an invitation from chambers of commerce, today extended his support to Chief Minister Banerjee and expressed confidence that Bengal had the potential to grow under the leadership of Banerjee.

In the same breath, he blasted the Left Front government for creating only potholes in 32 years rather rigorously.

"So it will take time to fill these potholes,” he said while addressing a gathering of industrialists of Kolkata.

Modi also took a pot shots at the UPA government by saying that the Centre had been partial to many states and as a consequence some states did not got their dues.  

"I see this happening with West Bengal too," Modi said.  Interestingly, Mamata Banerjee has been crying hoarse and is in Delhi today to put her claims before Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Finance Minister, P Chidambaram. She said her visit was aimed at removing an “economic blockade” for her state.

Modi’s support to political observers is of special significance, as he is perceived to be a prime ministerial candidate in the next general elections.

Banerjee was part of the NDA earlier. Recently, Mamata Banerjee, had fuelled speculation when she said that the Trinamool Congress would get back the Railway ministry is the next Lok Sabha elections. Political observers believed that her statement implied she could align with the UPA or the NDA.