'Priority is to stop BJP at all costs': RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav announces support to TMC

Kolkata, Mar 01: Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav on Monday announced his party's support to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress for the upcoming Assembly election in West Bengal.

"We will lend support to Mamata Banerjee wherever needed. The priority is to stop the BJP at all costs. To save the country from those who are bent of destroying it," said Yadav after meeting Banerjee at state secretariat Nabanna.

TMC leader and Urban Development Minister Firhad Hakim also joined the meeting.

"We will do everything necessary to save the culture, heritage, languages and literatures of the country," he added, adding this is not just about Bengal.

Thanking the RJD leader, Mamata said "The biggest thing is support to courage, Tejashwi bhai is fighting, so we are fighting and vice versa." The BJP would not last in Bihar, neither is it going to BJP win in Bengal, Banerjee added.

Earlier, an RJD delegation comprising of senior leaders held talks with TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee, who is considered to be the No 2 in the ruling party. It can be noted that there is a sizeable Bihar population residing in West Bengal's Asansol, Howrah and Kolkata areas.

If the ruling TMC and Yadav's RJD form a pre-poll alliance, it is expected to give a major boost to Banerjee as her party is facing a tough poll battle against the resurgent Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and also the Left-Congress alliance.

Also, the RJD has announced to contest the Assam Assembly Elections 2021 scheduled to be held in three phases beginning March 27. The results will be declared on May 2.

Tejashwi had said his party will contest the upcoming Assam Assembly polls in alliance with "like-minded" parties. Yadav, during his first visit to Guwahati, said he has already spoken to Congress and will hold talks with the AIUDF later in the day to formalise the alliance.