Abhishek Banerjee announces TMC's entry into Goa politics

Kolkata: Trinamool Congress (TMC) general secretary Abhishek Banerjee on Sunday said the party will explore political opportunities outside West Bengal and will enter the poll scene in Goa in the coming days.

Banerjee made it clear that, along with Tripura and Assam, his party was taking Goa seriously. Several state Congress leaders are believed to be in touch with the outfit, sources said.

"The Trinamool Congress today is not limited to Bengal alone. We have begun our work in Tripura (and) Assam. In the coming days, the Trinamool will come to Goa as well. Get ready. We are prepared to fight them politically," Mr Banerjee said at a rally while campaigning in Bhavanipur where his aunt and Bengal Chief Minister is contesting elections.

Abhishek Banerjee also said the party would never compromise in its fight against the saffron camp.

"You are not merely voting for Mamata Banerjee in Bhabanipur. In future, we would fight to oust the BJP at the Centre," the TMC national general secretary said

Abhishek's statement comes at a time when two senior Trinamool Congress leaders, Lok Sabha MP Prasun Banerjee and Rajya Sabha MP Derek O'Brien, are in Goa to test the political waters before next year's assembly elections.

Goa goes to the polls in 2022, along with Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, and other states.

It is now ruled by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant's BJP government. The Trinamool fought a bruising electoral battle with that party in West Bengal only recently in April-May.

Since then, the Mamata Banerjee-led outfit has sought to go aggressive against the BJP even in states other than West Bengal.