New Delhi/Kolkata/IBNS: In quite a rare scenario, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday dialled Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s Lok Sabha poll candidate from West Bengal's Basirhat Rekha Patra, who was also the face of the Sandeshkhali protests, to encourage her, a couple of days after her name was announced by the party.

In the phone call, Modi called Patra, who led the protests against the alleged land grabbing and sexual abuse by local Trinamool Congress leaders, "Shakti Swaroopa".

When Modi asked, "You are going to play a huge responsibility. How do you feel?", she responded saying, "I feel great. Your blessings are with me and all Sandeshkhali women so it feels great. You are kind of God to me. It feels like Ram-ji and his blessings are with us."

In about a 9-10-minute phone call, Patra shared the ordeal women from Sandeshkhali had to face.

Patra shared, "Not just Sandeshkhali, women from the entire Basirhat were tortured. The accused in the Sandeshkhali case is already in the hands of ED. I want them to be punished.

Alleging they were deprived from voting for more than a decade, she said, "We couldn't vote since 2011 in Sandeshkhali. We want to cast votes this time with full security. The Sandeshkhali women will be even happier if they are able to cast their votes."

The Prime Minister, who is the supreme leader of BJP, ensured the Election Commission of India will look into the matter and take necessary steps for the free and fair elections in the state, which is ruled by TMC since 2011.

"It's sad to see how the Bengal government has treated people," said Modi, who was told by Patra that women from TMC who were protesting against her candidate have now taken a U-turn.

"A few TMC women had protested but now they have apologised and extended their support to me," said Patra.

Hoping that Patra will have a dream journey from Sandeshkhali to New Delhi after the elections, Modi said, "You are a kind of Shakti Swaroopa for the kind of battle you fought in Sandeshkhali. You have been able to send so many powerful people to jail. Do you have any idea how much courage you have shown!"

Who is Rekha Patra?

Patra, who is the survivor of the alleged sexual abuse by Shahajhan and his aides, is a resident of Sandeshkhali, which falls in the Basirhat constituency.

Patra had filed a complaint against Shahjahan's two aides, Uttam Sardar and Shibu Hazra, who have been arrested. She was the one who had recorded her statement before a court magistrate.

West Bengal Leader of Opposition and BJP MLA, Suvendu Adhikari, had visited Patra's house and as per reports, he had urged the central party leadership to nominate her as the candidate.

Patra will take on Trinamool Congress' Haji Nurul Islam, who has been fielded by the state's ruling party, dropping actress Nusrat Jahan, who was elected by a record margin of votes from the Muslim-dominated seat in 2019.

The Lok Sabha elections will be held in seven phases from April 19 to June 1. The results will be declared on June 4.