Mamata blames Cong for BJP's prominence in national politics

Panaji: Lambasting the Indian National Congress for what she termed its lack of ability to make crucial decisions, Trinamool Congress head Mamata Banerjee said that the Congress was the 'TRP' of the BJP and that their actions had inadvertently strengthened the BJP's hold on national politics. She was speaking at a meeting with media persons gathered in Panaji, Goa on the last day of her three-day visit there.

The Trinamool Congress has forged an alliance with Vijay Sardesai's Goa Forward Party and will be contesting all 40 seats in the state in the Assembly Elections. Mamata ruled out any possibility of an alliance with the Congress in the Bengal elections citing the previous failure of the Congress-Left alliance to capture seats there, even as they rejected an alliance with her party.

"They got an opportunity in the past," the PTI news agency quoted Mamata Banerjee as saying. "Instead of fighting against the BJP, they contested against me in my state." Sardesai's party had approached the Congress to form an alliance but was turned down, prompting them to approach the Trinamool Congress.

TMC poll strategist Prashant Kishore, currently in Goa, had earlier noted that the BJP was going to remain a force to reckon with in the nation for years to come as it had captured 30% of the regional vote which was no small feat. Mamata Banerjee has sent a strong warning to the BJP in her Saturday address, warning it that 'Delhi dadagiri' or bullying would not be tolerated. Oppositional unity was key to opposing the BJP she added.