Mamata: Up to Cong to join TMC-led anti-BJP bloc

Panaji: Giving a new poll slogan of ‘Khel Zatlo’ in Goa, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday said an anti-BJP alliance has already taken shape in the coastal state under the banner of her party TMC and now it is for the Congress to decide whether it wants to join the grouping ahead of elections to take on the saffron outfit.

Addressing a public meeting at Benaulim in South Goa, Banerjee said the Trinamool Congress (TMC) will not allow the ruling BJP to win the elections in Goa, due in early 2022, this time.

At a separate event, Banerjee, who is on a two-day visit to the state, said there will be “Khel Zatlo” in Goa (‘Zatlo’ is a Konkani term to mean ‘will happen’). She had earlier raised the ‘Khela Hobe’ (game is on) slogan during the West Bengal Assembly poll campaign earlier this year.

At the public meeting, she said the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) has already joined her anti-BJP alliance and now the NCP’s lone MLA in the state, Churchill Alemao, has merged the party’s state legislative unit with the Trinamool Congress (TMC).

“All these years we did not come to Goa, but we realised no one was doing anything. No one was fighting against the BJP. That is why we thought of coming here,” she said.

In a veiled reference to the Congress, Banerjee said, “When you can fight against us in West Bengal, why can’t we fight against you in Goa. We want to work with you, but we will fight (on our own). We won’t listen to you and do ‘half understanding’ with the BJP.”

Banerjee said there will be “Khel Jatlo” in Goa. She had earlier raised the ‘Khela Hobe’ slogan during the West Bengal Assembly polls campaign. —(PTI)