Regional parties will do well in next Lok Sabha poll: Mamata Banerjee

KOLKATA: 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.