For Mamata Banerjee, Regional Bosses Fly Out, Say 'BJP, Take Note'

Kolkata: Nitish Kumar and Lalu Yadav, the Chief Minister of Bihar and his political partner, flew economy on an IndiGo flight to Kolkata this morning for the grand ceremonial oath-taking of Mamata Banerjee, who begins her second term as the head of the Bengal government.

The outsized scale of Ms Banerjee's re-election - shattering reports of anti-incumbency, she won many more seats this time than in 2011 - has adrenalized the premise of Ms Banerjee pivoting a new political front of regional powerhouses versus the BJP in the national election of 2019.

The front-row presence of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav at today's function, contributed significantly to that notion.

When asked if she could become the first Bengali Prime Minister, Ms Banerjee offered a verbal shrug. "You people become,'" she said, though she made it clear that she has asked for a meeting soon of anti-BJP parties to discuss their plans.
 Last week, when asked if she envisages running for PM, Ms Banerjee told NDTV that she is "a commoner" and wants to be known "not as a VIP but an LIP (Less Important Person)" who, modesty apart, has "many friends to talk to" about a potential anti-BJP coalition. She name-checked Mr Kejriwal; the Bihar Chief Minister; Naveen Patnaik who is the Chief Minister of Odisha and others. The Congress she cold-shouldered.

Lalu, as he is known, said that the likely constituents of what's being dubbed the "Federal Front" are working on a conferral soon. "We will sit together and hold discussions. The BJP has failed now," he said.

Benched by voters in key states like Assam and Kerala in last week's elections, the Congress maintains that without it, an anti-BJP coalition cannot have legs because it remains "the only truly national party". But the BJP's taking of Assam, and its growth in states like Bengal and Kerala, where traditionally it had no standing, prove its steady expansion beyond its heartland base.

Ms Banerjee's show of popularity and strength come as the union government celebrates its second anniversary. But the big focus -for both the BJP and the parties that say they will work together against it -is clearly now on 2019 and who will be the next Prime Minister.