Regional parties will lead India after 2014: Mamata Banerjee

Regional parties will lead India after the 2014 general election, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said on Wednesday, adding that her party will be equidistant from both the Congress and the BJP.

In a scathing attack on the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government, Banerjee alleged its anti-people steps had led to ballooning prices of essential commodities.

"Whatever you have done, people will make you zero. The CPI-M (Communist Party of India-Marxist) and the BJP are also zero. The regional parties will lead the nation after next year's general election," she said, in a reference to the Congress.

Banerjee said there were no permanent friends or foes in politics.

"The chair which symbolises power is temporary. Democracy is permanent. I don't believe in a policy that my enemy's enemy is my friend. We will maintain equidistance from the Congress and the BJP," she said.