‘BJP is a cheatingbaaz party’, says West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee following Amit Shah’s visit

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday accused Union Home Minister Amit Shah of "spewing lies" during his visit to the state in the context of his claims that the state has been going downhill in terms of industry and development.

The Union minister, she said, has contradicted the data of his own government, which puts Bengal in the number one position in MSME (Medium and Small Enterprises) and the construction of rural roads.

"Amit Shah has told a bunch lies yesterday. He claimed our state is 'zero' in industry but we are number one in the MSME sector. He claimed we couldn't build rural roads. But we are number one in that. This is the Government of India's information," the Chief Minister said, as per an NDTV report.

The BJP, she said, is a "cheatingbaaz" party, which can do anything for politics. ''You are the home minister. It doesn't suit you to tell lies,'' she said.

Earlier in the day, election strategist Prashant Kishor took to Twitter stating that the BJP will struggle to cross the double-digit mark in assembly polls.

Kishor, who has been roped in by Mamata Banerjee to strengthen her party's poll prospects, said that he would quit the microblogging site if the saffron party does any better than what he predicted.

"For all the hype amplified by a section of supportive media, in reality BJP will struggle to cross double digits in West Bengal," he tweeted. "Please save this tweet and if BJP does any better I must quit this space!" Kishore added.

TMC MP Derek O’Brien, on his part, took on Amit Shah on Sunday through Twitter: “#FactCheck of the speech made in Bengal by the henchman of the “tourist gang”. 7 pieces of concocted, false info in one speech. Actually, by his standards, quite low!”

He posted two images challenging statements made by Amit Shah in his speech in Midnapore district.

On Monday, the TMC MP tweeted another set of images, challenging claims made by Amit Shah in a press conference in Birbhum. “He came. He spoke. He lied. On Sunday we put out a #FactCheck for vice-henchman of the 'tourist gang'. We exposed 7 falsehoods. NOW 20 more from his press meet. Bengal cherishes knowledge & truth. Share half-baked facts and we will expose you everyday”

Assembly elections are likely to be held in West Bengal in April-May.