The political cauldron in poll-bound West Bengal heated up on Thursday with Union Home Minister Amit Shah calling to uproot the "syndicate raj" of the ruling TMC in the state and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee challenging him to first defeat her nephew Abhishek and then think of defeating her.

For the first time before the assembly elections, Banerjee and Shah held rallies in the same district on the same day.

"You (the people) vote for BJP. Leave alone illegal immigrants, not even a bird from across the border will be allowed to enter the state," Shah said. Criticising TMC's "cut money" culture, he said if voted to power BJP will probe corruption in disbursement of relief fund in the state post cyclone Amphan.