TMC hails national party status

Kolkata, Sep 2: Expressing happiness over the national party status awarded to it today, Trinamool Congress said it now aims to play a "bigger role" in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. "It is a much awaited decision. We are very happy.

The party will now play a much bigger role in 2019 Lok Sabha polls. The national party status and Mamata Banerjee's victory in Singur will give us an edge," senior TMC leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sukhendu Sekhar Roy told PTI.

"Apart from West Bengal, TMC has presence in states like Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and Tripura. In West Bengal, we are in power and in Tripura, we are the main opposition. Now we will try to spread to other parts of the country," Roy said.

Besides TMC, there are six recognised political parties in the country - BSP, BJP, Congress, NCP, CPI and CPI-M. Also there are 64 recognised state parties in the country. Trinamool Congress was extended the 'national party' status by the Election Commission today.

PTI