'Khel Zatlo': Mamata Banerjee Coins New Slogan Ahead Of Goa Polls To Take On BJP

The slogan is inspired from the "Khela Hobe (Game will be played)" call given by the TMC ahead of the Bengal Assembly polls this year.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is on a two-day visit to Goa (File)

New Delhi: In her second vist to poll-bound Goa, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said the TMC would not allow the ruling BJP to win the elections in the state.

Addressing a public meeting at Benaulim in South Goa, Mamata Banerjee also coined a new slogan of 'Khel Zatlo' ('Zatlo' is a Konkani term to mean 'will happen'), PTI reported. "BJP ke khilaf me khela hobe, khel zatlo, BJP hatao," Banerjee said.

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The slogan is inspired from the "Khela Hobe (Game will be played)" call given by the TMC ahead of the Bengal Assembly polls this year, which saw the party register a landslide over the BJP.

Extending the olive branch to the Congress, Mamata Banerjee said it was for the Grand Old Party to decide if it wanted to join the anti-BJP bloc ahead of the polls, PTI reported.

"If the Congress thinks they want to defeat the BJP, we have no objection. We already have the MGP on board. If you want to join, join us. We have already formed the alliance," PTI quoted the TMC supremo as saying.

On Mondat, the NCP's lone MLA in Goa, Churchill Alemao, merged the party's state legislative unit with TMC.

Banerjee claimed the TMC had already become an alternative to the saffron outfit in the state. 

"The MGP has joined the alliance, the NCP has merged its legislature unit (with TMC). If anyone wants not to divide votes, come and join us," she said.

In the past few months, Mamata Banerjee has stepped up her attack on the Congress, with her "there is no UPA" remark after a meeting with Sharad Pawar evoking a strong response from the party.

To woo the Christian community, which has a sizeable presence in Goa, Mamata Banerjee said she had been attending Christmas midnight masses since the last 20 years.

"After our government was formed, we celebrate Christmas in Kolkata in a big way. I am going to inaugurate a function on December 20," she said. Banerjee also spoke out her close relationship with Mother Teresa due to which she said she was even invited to the Vatican.

Earlier in the day, while addressing local TMC leaders, Mamata Banerjee said TMC entered the poll fray not to control the state, but to use its experience to help Goans.

"TMC is 'Temple-Mosque-Church'. We fight the BJP. Is there a chance of winning? Do you have the confidence that we can win? If you are confident, then don't take a step back. March ahead," Banerjee said.

"All these years we did not come to Goa, but we realised no one was doing anything. No one was fighting against the BJP. That is why we thought of coming here," she said.

She said films and football were among various things that connect West Bengal and Goa. Several football legends from West Bengal would be arriving in Goa to campaign for the TMC along with local leaders, she said.

In the 2017 Goa assembly elections, the Congress had emerged as the single largest party in the 40-member house, but failed to form a government.

The BJP outmanoeuvred the Congress by forming a post-poll alliance with some regional parties and formed its government.