Modi, Congress two faces of the same coin: Mamata

Describing Congress and BJP's likely prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi as "brothers" and "two faces of the same coin", West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Thursday said the two parties have joined hands with the CPI-M to defeat her in the panchayat polls.

Addressing election meetings at Nadia and Murshidabad districts, where the Congress has a good base, Banerjee tore into the party saying it raised the issue of the Gujarat riots whenever elections approach.

"Narendra Modi and Congress are brothers and two faces of the same coin," she said at Debagram in Nadia.

Coming down heavily on the Congress, she said it is trying to draw votes in election time by warning people that if they do not vote for it then "Modi will come to power".

"The Gujarat riots took place over 10 years back. But still the Congress raises the issue whenever elections are round the corner.

In another election rally at Baharampur in Murhisdabad, Banerjee alleged that the Congress has managed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) in the past for its political gains.

"But you cannot manage us. I always play with a straight bat. You all have joined hands to defeat us in the panchayat polls. But those who have conspired against me will be exposed in the near future," she said.

Addressing an election rally at Berhampore in the State's Murshidabad district later in the day, she said that the fate of the state Congress leaders who are serving as ministers in the party-led United Progressive Alliance central government is sealed.

Banerjee ridiculed the union ministers from the congress in the state, saying they got the berths only because Trinamool withdrew support to the United Progressive Alliance government September last.

"They have become ministers only for our kindness," she quipped, adding they are sure to lose the next general elections.