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Shillong, Dec. 12 (PTI): West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee arrived here on Monday as part of her three-day visit to Meghalaya where she will address a Trinamool Congress workers' convention to boost the morale of the party functionaries ahead of the assembly elections due early next year.
The TMC supremo was welcomed by the party's Meghalaya in-charge Manas Ranjan Bhunia, state unit president Charles Pyngrope and Mukul Sangma, the leader of the opposition in the assembly.
Banerjee was accompanied by TMC national general secretary and her nephew Abhishek Banerjee.
Hundreds of party workers gathered outside the Umroi Airport here to greet the top functionaries of the TMC and were seen waving party flags.
"Hundreds from across Meghalaya greeted Hon'ble Chairperson @MamataOfficial & National Gen Secy @abhishekaitc as they received a GRAND WELCOME at Umroi Airport!," the TMC said on Twitter.
During her three-day visit, she will address a TMC workers' convention at the State Central Library in Shillong on Tuesday, a party leader said.
"Mamata Banerjee's visit is to set the tone for the 2023 polls and she is expected to boost the morale of the party workers and prepare a strategy for the assembly elections," the party leader said.
The West Bengal CM will also participate in pre-Christmas celebrations here on December 13.
In November 2021, 12 of the 17 MLAs of the Congress had joined the TMC, making it the principal opposition party in the 60-member assembly of the hill state.
Of the 12 legislators, Himalaya Shangpliang resigned from the assembly and also from the party last month, reducing the TMC's strength in the House to 11.
Notably, the TMC has been trying to strengthen its foothold in the northeastern state along with Assam and Tripura in the region.
TMC's national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee had visited Meghalaya twice this year.
During his last visit, Banerjee had inaugurated a Trinamool Congress' party office in Garo Hills and also met church leaders besides addressing a public meeting in western Meghalaya.