India, April 27 -- As the West Bengal election campaign ended on Monday - with the state set to vote in a second and final phase on Wednesday, April 29 - Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah made last-ditch efforts to secure votes.

PM Modi made a spiritual pitch in an open letter to voters of West Bengal. Shah issued a warning involving the central forces to incumbent chief minister Mamata Banerjee.

In his open letter published on social media just minutes before the campaign deadline, Modi invoked the Hindu goddess Kali, who he said filled him with "new energy". He also equated the Bengal election campaign with a pilgrimage.

"During this election, I have experienced a unique energy in Bengal. Despite the inte...