Mamata Banerjee on Friday brought up the Bharati Ghosh cash row to charge Narendra Modi and the BJP with “distributing money in the dead of night” during the elections.

Addressing a rally at Ashoknagar in North 24-Parganas, the Trinamul chief said: “Yesterday, a candidate of the BJP was caught with crores of rupees in Bengal,” Mamata said, alluding to the sum of Rs 1.13 lakh seized from a car in which Ghosh was travelling.

“BJP leaders with Z-Plus, Y-Plus security are bringing boxes full of money. They are distributing money in the dead of night….among anti-social elements…so that they can loot votes…. Why is the Election Commission not taking any steps?” the chief minister asked.

Mamata questioned the BJP’s source of funds. “Boxes full of money won’t win you votes. But where did the BJP get so much money? Is this the money earned during demonetisation? How much did they make from the Rafale scam, the Jan Dhan scam?” she asked.