Trinamool silently wooing regional parties

With Lok Sabha elections round the corner and a possibility of a non-Congress and non-BJP government becoming apparent, the Trinamool Congress is quietly forging alliances with the regional parties so that they can play a decisive role in the formation of the next government at the Centre.

Speculations became stronger after West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee last week said the Lok Sabha elections will be held in a few months and the railway portfolio may return to the Trinamool Congress.

“We’re keeping an equal distance from the Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party. We are hopeful of getting good numbers in the Lok Sabha polls and will surely play a deciding role in the next government,” Sultan Ahmed, Lok Sabha MP and Trinamool Congress core committee leader, said.

Sources in the Trinamool said: “We are in touch with all the regional parties which share similar views with us. The next election is very crucial and we strongly believe that the regional parties will play a important role in the government formation.”

A senior leader considered close to Mamata said: “At present we are not predicting anything. We want to keep our door open for everybody. We are putting our terms very clearly and anybody who wants to share the dais with us is welcome.

The regional parties actually represent the voice of the people. Unfortunately, these voices are often ignored because regional parties don’t have proper representation at the Centre.”

Unless the regional parties can increase their number at the Centre, some parties, in the name of “national interest” will continue to rob the people and the country, the leader said.
According to party sources,  senior leaders are having the preliminary talks with other parties and once the Panchayat election is over, the Trinamool Congress chief is going to take the final call.