PM Modi taunts Akhilesh Yadav over Mamata Banerjee's 'outside support to INDIA' announcement

Addressing a rally in Uttar Pradesh, Modi said, "The Babua-ji or the Samajwadi Prince has found  a new bua (aunt), who stays in Bengal. Now the Bengal aunt has announced her outside support to the INDI alliance."

Modi said this to imply the INDIA bloc has too many candidates for the PM's post.

Mamata, who heads TMC and takes on Modi's BJP headon in West Bengal, on Wednesday said, "We will lead the INDIA bloc and give it outside support to form the government so that women and MGNREGA workers in West Bengal do not face any hurdle.

"But when I say this, I don't include Bengal Congress and CPI-M because they are with the BJP."

However, the TMC supremo on Thursday retracted from her statement and gave a "clarification".

She said, "I am very much part of INDIA... it was my brainchild. We are together at the national level and will continue to be together."

Mamata did, however, make it clear on both occasions that she does not see the Congress' state unit and the CPM, as allies.

"But when I say this, I don't include Bengal Congress and CPI-M because they are with the BJP," she added.

Mamata decided to go solo in the Lok Sabha polls in West Bengal after having a tiff with the Congress on the seat-sharing deal.

Reportedly, the TMC offered two seats to the Congress but the grand old party demanded around 10.

The Left and Congress then went on with their seat-sharing deal in 42 Lok Sabha seats which are up for grabs.