Lok Sabha polls: TMC will play a decisive role in government formation, says Soumen Mohapatra

BHUBANESWAR: Claiming that Trinamool Congress would play a decisive role in government formation at the Centre after Lok Sabha polls, senior leader and West Bengal Minister Soumen Mohapatra today said the party favoured a non-Congress and non-BJP combine to be in power.

"In the present political scenario, TMC will be a determining factor in formation of government at the Centre after the general elections," Mohapatra told reporters here.

Stating that TMC would was against both Congress-led UPA and BJP-led NDA, the West Bengal minister said the role to be played by the party would be decided in accordance with the post-election scenario.

Mohapatra, who is here to campaign for party candidates in the next phase of elections on April 17 in Odisha, said TMC supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's decision would be a determining factor in the formation of next government at the Centre.

Mohapatra said TMC always stood with the poor and common people and in order to safeguard their interest it pulled out its ministers from the centre when train fair was increased.

Similarly, the party strongly opposed increase in the price of petrol even when it was in government, he said adding the party also opposed the decision to raise poll expenses of the candidates.

With a goal to establish a clean and transparent political atmosphere and to ensure overall development of the poor and downtrodden, TMC has fielded its candidates for 150 Lok Sabha seats in different parts, including five in Odish