Trinamool eyeing northern states, to contest HP, Haryana polls

The party is eyeing a pan-India presence, Roy indicated, while claiming that the TMC had its base in the north-eastern states, including Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Tripura, besides other states like Jharkhand.

"We can look for some presence all over the country," he said here.

Referring to UP, he said that his party was satisfied with whatever base it had managed to built in the Hindi heartland.

Roy, who inaugurated a swanky office for the party's northern region states here, addressing TMC workers said that Mamata Banerjee had cleared Rajya Sabha MP and industrialist, K D Singh's name as the person who will lead and help TMC set up its base in the northern states.

"Singh was our party's in-charge in the recent Manipur elections, where we won seven seats. In Punjab, the polls are over. HP goes to polls later this year while the elections are due in Haryana in about two years. In both the states, we will fight the polls", Roy said, adding, very soon the party will have its organisational setup in these states.

Projecting Mamata Banerjee as a messiah of the masses, Roy said that if there is one person who is capable and has the capacity to fight corruption and take it head on, it is her.

"She is a simple person. Mamata didi wears Hawaii chappals and for three decades has lived in a very small room. She also wears an inexpensive saree", he told the workers asking them to compare it with other political leaders who tend to "exploit" the people once they come to power.

Roy, who is Railway Minister and TMC general secretary, also promised to do everything possible he can to ensure further widening of the rail network in the northern states.