Will Return To Delhi, Also Spoke With Sharad Pawar, Says Mamata Banerjee

Mamata Banerjee called her Delhi visit "successful" - the first after her Trinamool Congress retained power in West Bengal in the assembly election

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee left Delhi today after a five-day visit packed with meetings with opposition leaders including Congress chief Sonia Gandhi. On her way out, Ms Banerjee said, "I will return to the national capital once every two months." She called her Delhi visit "successful" - the first after her Trinamool Congress retained power in West Bengal in the assembly election - in what is being seen as her testing the water before wading deeper into national politics. "Democracy must go on," Ms Banerjee said, news agency PTI reported. "The visit was successful. Met a lot of my colleagues for political reasons. We met for political purpose. Democracy must go on. Our slogan is 'save democracy, save country'. I will come here every two months," Ms Banerjee said before leaving for her nephew and Trinamool MP Abhishek Banerjee's home. The Chief Minister said she also spoke with Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar on phone. "Today I talked to Sharad ji also. He went to Mumbai. Next time we will be meeting also," she said. "...To save democracy everyone must work together. The country is the most important thing to work for. If democracy is at threat, the country is under threat. Save democracy and save the nation."