Next government should be of, for common people: Mamata

The next central government should be one that provides stability and works for the common people, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said here Tuesday.

"I am a simple person. I belong to the common people. I feel whatever government may come, democracy will continue forever. That is why we want a government of which is of common people by common people and for the common people.

"The government should be one which provides stability," said Banerjee, who has given a call for formation of a federal front of regional parties as an alternative to the Congress and the BJP.

Banerjee, also the Trinamool Congress supremo, avoided a direct reply to a query on whether social activist Anna Hazare would campaign for her party in the coming Lok Sabha polls.

"Let me meet him first. Then I will let you know the details," she said.

Banerjee said Hazare was a "respected" person, and she was happy to meet him.

"He wanted to meet me when our all India general secretary Mukul Roy called on him recently. I have never met him. This is the first time I am meeting him. I will be happy to meet him," she said.

Roy and Trinamool Rajya Sabha member K.D. Singh visited Ralegan Siddhi in Maharashtra Saturday last to hold preliminary discussions with Hazare and set up a face-to-face between him and Banerjee.

Hazare has been praising Banerjee lately, after she replied to his letter containing a 17-point suggestion about pro-people policies. In the missive, Hazare had asked the Bengal chief minister about her stand on implementing the policies if she came to power.

Hazare has said Banerjee was the only leader who replied to his letter sent to all political parties.

"She lives in a 10 by 12 room, wears hawai chappal, she does not have a car,.. I feel a ray of hope. If people stand beside such people, not much time will be taken for change the country.

"I want to say that after 66 years of Independence nobody has thought of changing the economic system, but Mamata Ji has thought about it,'" said the 76-year-old Gandhian after meeting Roy.