Trinamool Congress confident of becoming a national party

Apparently unhappy over the constant criticism by a section of West Bengal Congress leaders describing the Trinamool Congress as a regional party, its chief Mamata Banerjee today asserted that her party would definitely become a national one.

Banerjee, whose party is a key ally in the UPA government at the Centre, was confident that her party would win seats in the assembly polls in Manipur next year as also in Tripura in 2013 and in the next polls in Arunachal Pradesh.

"If a party is recognised in four states it becomes a national party. We will definitely become a national party," she told a party meeting here.

"A regional party plays a key role in national politics. There is an ideological fight between a regional party and a national party. The regional party survives through lot of struggle," Banerjee added.