Regional parties will do well in next Lok Sabha poll: CM

Asked if she is ready to lead any non-Congress, non-BJP alliance at the Centre after the next Lok Sabha election, she said, 'I don't want any chair'

Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee today said regional parties will do well in the next Lok Sabha election, but evaded a question on whether Trinamool will lead any non-Congress and non-BJP alliance at the Centre.

“I feel that regional parties would do well in the next Lok Sabha election. I will be happy if they (regional parties) come together,” Banerjee told reporters here.     Asked if she is ready to lead any non-Congress, non-BJP alliance at the national level after the next Lok Sabha election, she replied, “I don't want any chair. I am ready to be there as a worker. If anybody comes forward, I don't mind. I don't fight for power, I fight in the interest of the people. We had left UPA-2 government in the interest of the people. Even the Prime Minister has said there are no permanent enemies in politics.”    

She criticised the Congress-led UPA government for hiking prices of coal, fertiliser and other commodities, which affected the people and added that the Congress drew a blank in the current round of bye-elections.

RTI Act: Need for transparency
Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee today came out in support of the Central Information Commission order on bringing political parties under the RTI ambit.

“Political parties should function in a transparent manner and the public has the right to be informed about their functioning and funding. There should be transparency somewhere. I appreciate this move,” Banerjee said. “Since political parties are involved with the lives of the public at large they should be brought under the RTI ambit,”she said.

“Once the Trinamool Congress emerges as a national party we shall submit all information required under this Act, whether we are asked for it or not,” Banerjee, the West Bengal Chief Minister added.