Mamata Banerjee's Goa mission begins with Leander Paes, Nafisa Ali on board

Panaji: "Dilli ka dadagiri nehi chalega," said West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee as she launched her party’s assembly election campaign in Goa on Friday with the likes of Tennis ace Leander Paes and veteran actress Nafisa Ali coming onboard.

The internationally renowned sportsperson, Paes, joined AITC in the presence of Banerjee, as did Nafisa and Mrinalini Deshprabhu.

Banerjee welcomed the new members as she handed them party flags at a ceremony here. She said Paes is "like my younger brother".

Speaking at a programme at the International Centre Goa (ICG), she said she wanted to give Goa full protection to safeguard their culture and heritage so they could live with their heads held high.

''We want to give Goa full protection to safeguard their culture and heritage. We want you to live with your heads held high, live with pride,'' she said.

Attacking the Bharatiya Janata Party, she said, ''Dilli ka Dadagiri nahin chalega. We want the federal structure to be strong.''

She said BJP was nobody to give her a character certificate on her religion. ''I’m a proud Hindu,'' she said.

Banerjee said she does not divide people for the sake of politics. ''I will die but I will NOT divide the people. I don’t divide,'' she said.

Party MP Derek O' Brien, party Vice President Luizinho Faleiro were also present on the occasion.

After the party announced its plan to contest assembly elections in Goa, many Congress leaders have joined the party.

Important among them is former Chief Minister Luizinho Faleiro and Goa Congress General Secretary Yatish Naik.

The party is trying to make inroads into Goa in the 2022 assembly polls.

Addressing a press conference here, she said the state should be ruled from Goa and people of the state should take decisions.

She said the agenda of her party is to work for the development of the people.

She said tourism required much work and Trinamool will stress on employment generation.

The West Bengal Chief Minister is on a three day visit to the coastal state. (UNI)