Narendra Modi
Narendra Modi set to become India's prime minister Reuters

Butcher, mass murderer, devil, architect of riots, liar, eunuch and the ultimate agent of destruction – These are just some of the words political opponents used to describe India's incoming prime minister Narendra Modi.

India just witnessed an election campaign in which respect for political opposition plumbed new depths. Everyone from prime ministerial front-runner Modi to Congress party leader and Nehru-Gandhi dynasty Rahul Gandhi were the targets of relentless, bruising verbal attacks.

As the business end of the long drawn-out election has set in, with a victorious Modi preparing to don the mantle of a statesman and engage his opponents, it would be interesting to see how ridiculously low-grade abuses were hurled at him by the people he would hold discourses with in the august house of parliament.

And of course, how low and mean he stooped to counter every abuse with a stronger, more cynical verbal tirade.

Here are some of the choicest expressions chief ministers, union ministers and top politicians used to describe Narendra Modi, the would-be prime minister:

'Devil'

"Modi is a devil. He has presided over riots in his own state and has turned his attention to Bengal... He wants to divide Hindus and Muslims in the state," Mamata Banerjee, leader of the Trinamool Congress party, which won a sizeable 30 seats in parliament.

"It [is] most unlikely that Indian voters can accept such a divisive leader whose only qualification was his presiding over the killing of innocent Muslims in Gujarat." - Mamata Banerjee.

'Impotent'

"Some people came, attacked and went, and you couldn't protect. Are you not a strong man? .. We don't accuse you (Modi) of killing people... Our accusation is that you are impotent ('napunsak in Hindi'). You couldn't stop the killers." – External affairs minister Salman Khurshid.

'Mass murderer'

In a campaign speech near the southern city of Bangalore, Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah said Narendra Modi was a "mass murderer."

'Butcher'

"Butcher of Gujarat air-dropped into Bengal. He has no answers to Bengal's development model. So, he is making personal attacks." -Trinamool Congress leader Derek O'Brien.

'Even animals ashamed of Modi'

"A butcher is also shy of Narendra Modi. Will this man become the PM of India?," Lalu Prasad Yadav, Hindi heartland strongman, former chief minister of Bihar state and former Indian Railway minister.

'Mad'

"Modi must have deranged as he talks rubbish things and he is needed to be treated in a mental hospital." – Sharad Pawar, India's minister for agriculture and former chief minister of Maharashtra

'Dog'

"Modi "is like a dog trying to enter the temple of democracy. We have to save ourselves from these dogs." - Beni Prasad Verma, Congress leader and former Indian minister for communications.

'Agent of destruction'

Surprisingly this honorific came from Modi's own party. As Modi's rise left her in the lurch, party leader Uma Bharti allegedly described him as the mythological "Vinash Purush" or agent of destruction.

'May Gods intervene to stop him'

"Let us not forget the way he began his innings as the Gujarat Chief Minister and God forbid if he becomes the Prime Minister he may repeat the same ... Minorities are traumatised and terrorised in Gujarat whether these be the Muslims, Christians or the Sikhs." - Amarinder Singh, former chief minister of Punjab state.

'Donkey'

"Now he talks about Matua community. He said they are not citizens of India. Is he a donkey? They are Indian citizens." -West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee.