Goa: Luizinho Faleiro resigned from Congress on Monday.
Panaji:
Veteran Goa Congress leader Luizinho Faleiro quit his 40-year-old party today amid reports of Mamata Banerjee joining the Trinamool Congress. Earlier today, he praised the Bengal Chief Minister and called her a “streetfighter” who can give a tough fight to the BJP.
“Mamata Banerjee has given a tough fight to Narendra Modi. Mamata’s formula has won in Bengal,” Luizinho Faleiro told reporters. Mr Faleiro insisted that he would continue to be a “congressman of the larger Congress family”, meaning he saw the Trinamool as the branch of Congress best equipped to fight the BJP.
He said, “I met some people. They said that I am a Congressman of 40 years. I will be a Congressman from the Congress family. Mamta is the only one among the four Congressmen who has given a tough fight to (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi and his juggling. PM Modi Had 200 meetings in Bengal. Amit Shah had 250 meetings. Then there was ED, CBI. But Mamata’s formula won,” the former chief minister said.
Describing Ms. Banerjee as a streetfighter, Mr. Faleiro said: “We need fighters who share the same party’s ideology, policies, principles and programs. I want all Congress parties to come together to fight the BJP.” “
This is Trinamool’s second major defection after Sushmita Deb’s crossover. While Ms. Deb has been given a bigger role in Tripura ahead of next year’s elections, Mr. Faleiro is likely to strengthen the Trinamool in Goa, where the Congress is weak and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is campaigning aggressively. .
Mr Faleiro was Congress’ in charge of Tripura for the 2019 national election and could also help the Trinamool in the northeastern state, where it is looking to expand its footprint and take on the ruling BJP.
Senior Trinamool Congress leaders Derek O’Brien and Prasun Banerjee are in Goa for talks with Mr. Faleiro.
Goa, along with Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab and other states, is to go to polls next year.
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