Bengal in grasp,Mamata eyes national status,other states

This would be the first time that the Trinamool would be contesting the Assembly polls in Arunachal Pradesh. The Bihar-based JDU,whose leader and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar enjoys a good rapport with the TMC chief,will also make a debut in the state with the aim of securing the status of a national party.

However,Mamata8217;s game plan in Arunachal is not going down well with the ruling Congress,which is facing a tussle within its rank and file. The Trinamool is welcoming to its fold Congress MLAs who have rebelled after being denied tickets. Already six such Congress legislators have joined the Trinamool and are likely to be fielded by the party.

While Mamata is already denying elbow space to ally Congress in West Bengal,at the Centre too she is learnt to be in close touch with regional parties which are feeling threatened by a resurgent Congress. Her recent bonhomie with Nitish Kumar and the move to accommodate BJP ideologue Sudheendra Kulkarni in an important railway panel are being seen as attempts to emerge as a key player in central politics too.

In New Delhi,several leaders of regional parties called on out leader. The Trinamool wants close coordination with regional parties,but for the time being we are focused on West Bengal, a senior leader of the party told The Indian Express. Insiders said Mamata was also in touch with some Samajwadi Party leaders who were keen on joining her.

In West Bengal,tired of Mamatas attempts to sideline them,Congress leaders have started attacking her publicly. Mamata has become over confident. She feels she can win West Bengal alone. But she will be proven wrong, said a Congress leader.

Recently,the TMC and Congress contested the election to the South Dum Dum Municpality in alliance,but the former dumped its ally when it got a majority of its own. Now,the TMC is taking a close look at the DMK model in Tamil Nadu,saying it too will take only outside support from the Congress in Bengal.