PM Modi, Mamata equally popular in Bengal: Row erupts over Prashant Kishor's purported audio clip

BJP's IT cell chief Amit Malviya claimed that "TMC's election was just thrown away!"

Controversy erupted on Saturday when the BJP released an audio clip where the Trinamool Congress’ (TMC) poll strategist Prashant Kishor is purportedly heard saying that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s popularity in West Bengal was equal to that of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The excerpts with Kishor’s chat with journalists were shared on Twitter by BJP’s IT Cell head Amit Malviya. DH could not independently verify the authenticity of the clip.

“There is no doubt that Modi is hugely popular in Bengal. He is equally popular as Mamata Banerjee,” Kishor is heard purportedly saying in the audio clip. The development comes on a day when the fourth phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections was held.

Mocking the TMC, Malviya stated in a tweet “ Is it open? That moment when Mamata Banerjee’s strategist realised that the Club House room was open and his admissions were being heard by the public at large and not just a handful of Lutyens journalists. Deafening silence followed...TMC’s election was just thrown away!”

“In a public chat on Club House, Mamata Banerjee’s election strategist concedes that even in TMC’s internal surveys, BJP is winning.The vote is for Modi, polarisation is a reality, the SCs (27% of WB’s population), Matuas are all voting for the BJP! BJP has cadre on ground,” he stated in another tweet .

Follow live updates on the Phase 4 of West Bengal polls here

However, Kishor dared the BJP to release the complete audio clip.

“I am glad BJP is taking my chat more seriously than words of their own leaders! They should show courage & share the full chat instead of getting excited with selective use of parts of it.I have said this before & repeating again - BJP will not to CROSS 100 in WB. Period,” tweeted Kishor.