Kolkata: Janata Dal United (JD-U) leader and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is not a direct political opponent of Trinamool Congress (TMC) founder and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. However, history has enough evidence to prove that whenever Kumar has gained politically at central politics, it is at the expense of Banerjee.

During the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led NDA regime, which both Kumar and Banerjee were a part of, the later become Railway Minister after Banerjee quit the alliance siting corruption charges that were levied against the then defence minister George Fernades.

“That was a serious political mistake at our end. People were disillusioned and it affected our voter base. It also helped Kumar prove his administrative abilities as Railway Minister and win mass support in his state,” admits a senior TMC leader part of the party’s political strategic team.

This time, Kumar’s cosying up with the Congress may give Banerjee political jitters over a probable potential realignment of political forces in 2014. “If there is an alliance between JD [U] and Congress before the 2014 general elections, if will give us less room to bargain even in a post-poll scenario,” the TMC leader added.

Though speaking at Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi on Sunday, Kumar has sent enough filler raising the hopes of a probable regional alliance between TMC, JD (U), Samajwadi Party and the Biju Janata Dal of Orissa. “We support the economic demand of all the backward states. Bihar is not against the progress of other backward states and then only India will progress,” Kumar said, giving Banerjee the right signals for an economic package to Bengal which has been her core demand.

“TMC is keen for a political alliance with the JD [U] and parties with secular credentials. Though it runs a government with the support of the BJP, it has been able to keep its secular credentials intact. We believe that the regional parties will hold the key to the formation of the next union government. Our leader has been in constant touch with the leaders of such parties,” he added.

However, analysts believe that though Banerjee has severed ties with the Congress siting economic policies which target the poor, she has kept the possibility of a future alliance open. Of late, TMC is avoiding frontal clashes with the UPA regime. When the entire Opposition was up in arms over the helicopter purchase scandal, TMC chose to lie low. Again, TMC was not been at all vocal during the politicking over the Afzal Guru execution. Similarly, Banerjee showed no interest in targeting the Centre and home minister after the Hyderabad blasts.

The BJP has also been trying to improve relations with the TMC, especially after it broke away from the alliance with the Congress both at the central and state level. Newly appointed BJP President Rajnath Singh, who was in the city recently, supported Banerjee’s demand for an economic package for Bengal.

“It is true that there has also been an increased floor coordination among BJP and TMC Members of Parliament, but also between Congress and the Left front. But that doesn’t necessarily mean a probable alliance,” said a TMC Member of Parliament.