Mamata says not meeting Sonia as TMC goes on expansion overdrive at cost of Congress

Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee who is currently in Delhi has said that she is not going to meet Congress President Sonia Gandhi this time around.

"This time I sought time only from the prime minister. The leaders are all busy with Punjab polls. Work is first... Why should we meet Sonia every time? It is not constitutionally mandated," Banerjee snapped at reporters who asked her about meeting Sonia Gandhi.

This is a clear hint that all is not well in the Opposition camp since the West Bengal chief minister has gone on a party expansion overdrive mostly at the cost of the Congress.

From Goa to Meghalaya to Bihar to Haryana, the Trinamool has recently inducted a number of Congress leaders.

Mamata Banerjee shares a close bond with Sonia Gandhi, but recent exodus of key Congress leaders to TMC has led to tension between the two parties.

Also watch: Mamata's Meghalaya coup: 12 of 17 Congress MLAs switch to Trinamool

The latest jolt to the Congress from Trinamool came in Meghalaya where 12 of the party's 17 MLAs joined the Mamata Banerjee party on Wednesday.

The move came a day after three-term Congress MP from Bihar Kirti Azad, former JD(U) general secretary Pawan Varma and Haryana politician Ashok Tanwar joined Mamata's party.

The Trinamool has been trying to expand its footprint in Tripura and Goa with an eye to the next round of assembly elections in these states.