Trinamool Congress general secretary Abhishek Banerjee on Monday said a number of MLAs from Tripura's ruling party, BJP, and main opposition party, CPI(M), are in touch with Trinamool Congress and may join the Bengal-based party at some stage.
"Many MLAs and other elected representatives from the ruling BJP and the opposition have expressed their eagerness to join our party. They are keeping in touch with us. We have given a clear message that they have to join unconditionally and they would be chosen on the basis of their track records, people's contact and (willingness) to work for people selflessly," Mr Banerjee, who arrived in Agartala on Sunday, told reporters.
He claimed Trinamool was the only party which can fight against the "misrule" of BJP.
"TMC is the only party which can fight against the misrule of BJP. We will fight against BJP till the last drop of blood. Vandalism and hooliganism have no place in Tripura. We are preparing to fight BJP in the coming Assembly elections," Mr Banerjee said.
He said leaders and activists would start joining soon and continue throughout the next several months.
Mr Banerjee said he visited the residences of many party workers who were attacked by goons affiliated to the ruling party before and after the civic polls in Tripura that were held on November 25.
He said, his party is working to fight BJP not in Tripura only, but also in all other parts of the country.
However, he denied allegations that Trinamool's recent political activities were harming the prospects of Congress and may help BJP.
"Ours is the only party which can fight BJP politically. We do not want to harm the prospects of Congress anyway and that is the reason we did not go to Uttar Pradesh or Punjab. But the fight against BJP can't indefinitely wait for someone," he said.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
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