With Mamata Banerjee eyeing on Goa assembly elections 2022, three dignitaries joined the Trinamool Congress today. Veteran tennis star Leander Paes become the third celebrity after actress Nafisa Ali and activist Mrinalini Deshprabhu, to join the party in the presence of Trinamool supremo.
An elated Banerjee welcomed the tennis star to her party, saying Paes was like her younger brother. "I've known him since I was the country's youth and sports minister. I'm
overjoyed," she confessed. "Many thanks, Leander. Thank you very much for joining us," she remarked, handing him a party flag.
"We are extremely delighted to share that Shri @Leander joined us today in the presence of our Hon'ble Chairperson @MamataOfficial! Together, we shall ensure that every single person in this nation sees the Dawn of Democracy that we have been waiting for since 2014!” tweeted the party’s official account.
Nafisa Ali, a senior actor and activist who ran against Banerjee in the 2004 Lok Sabha elections from South Kolkata and activist Mrinalini Deshprabhu were also welcomed to the party.
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TMC tweeted, “We are elated to share that Nafisa Ali and Mrinalini Deshprabhu have joined the Goa Trinamool Congress family today in the presence of our
Hon'ble Chairperson @MamataOfficial. We wholeheartedly welcome both leaders!”
Banerjee is on a three-day tour to the coastal state. The Trinamool Congress, which is trying to establish itself as a credible option to the ruling BJP in the state, has scheduled a series
of engagements for Ms Banerjee in Goa.
"Mamata Banerjee will meet intellectuals, thinkers, professionals, and others during her visit," a party official said.
The Goa Assembly has 40 members, with the BJP now having 17 legislators with the backing of legislators from the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) and other regional parties.
Congress has 15 MLAs.