She said, “Modiji will become more powerful owing to the Congress. Why should the country suffer because of the Congress’s indecision? They had enough opportunities to prove themselves. Instead of contesting against the BJP, they contested against me in my state. How do they expect that they will contest against you and you will go to them with flowers and sweets? I want the regional parties to become strong… If the state is strong then the Centre is strong.” Banerjee added that “If we can win Goa, we can win India.”

She also said that regional parties committed to fighting the BJP should work with the TMC. Banerjee’s statement came after her meeting with Goa Forward Party (GFP) president Vijai Sardesai, an estranged ally of the BJP.

“We want to see a strong federal structure. We don’t want outsiders’ dadagiri (bullying). Regional parties, which are committed to defeating the BJP, should work together,” Banerjee said at the International Centre in Dona Paula.

The TMC, at first, had said that it was not looking to form an alliance for the Goa assembly election slated next year. While discussions were earlier held between political strategist Prashant Kishor, who is managing the TMC’s election campaign in Goa, and Sardesai, the GFP, reportedly, did not wish to merge with the TMC.

After the meeting with Sardesai on Saturday, Banerjee, however, said, “We discussed the matter. Let us work together. But it (alliance or merger) is their choice, it is what they decide. Regional parties can work together and give a good fight to the BJP.”

Asked if her party can join hands with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Goa, Banerjee said: “I love him (Kejriwal). I have no problem with them. In Delhi, they won because of Anna Hazare. You have to appreciate that… Have I stopped them from going to Punjab? Why would they stop us from coming to Goa. I cannot talk on behalf of other parties but can hold forth the views of my own party and other regional parties that really want to fight the BJP.”

She said that Goa was a “gold mine but it needed strong leadership. Goa has unemployment issues in the fishing, transport and mining sectors. Goa has everything today, it only lacks leadership, mechanism and system.”

After meeting the West Bengal chief minister, Sardesai said, “Mamata Banerjee is a symbol of regional pride and we are also a regional party. Everybody needs to come together. Prashant Kishor has said one in three persons votes for BJP. This means that two don’t. Our endeavour will be to bring those two together.”