Trinamul Congress chief Mamata Banerjee is likely to visit AAP-ruled Punjab next week to meet AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal and leaders of the newly regenerated farmers’ movement.

The slated visit is deemed significant in the wake of the virtual withdrawal from the INDIA bloc by both the parties over disagreements with the Congress.

Mamata, said sources in her party, would like to offer prayers at the Golden Temple in Amritsar during her short visit.

“A Punjab visit, especially a trip to the Golden Temple, was on the anvil for some time. The Trinamul-AAP summit has also duly materialised... so she is making this long overdue trip,” said a Trinamul insider.

The Bengal chief minister is likely to fly out of Calcutta on February 21 and return the following day.

“She is going to meet the senior leadership of the AAP, including their chief (also Delhi chief minister) Arvind Kejriwal, and Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann,” said a source.

Mamata is likely to fly out after the main event at Deshapriya Park in Calcutta to observe International Mother Language Day and initiate the release of funds for 21 lakh MGNREGA job card holders, whose wages have been blocked by the BJP-led Centre.

Trinamul and the AAP have been expressing their bitterness over the inordinate delay in seat-sharing parleys by the Congress in the INDIA space. The AAP has declared its intent to go it alone in the party-ruled Punjab and Delhi in the general elections. Mamata also said Trinamul would fight solo in Bengal.

Because of this, both Mamata and Kejriwal have been accused by sections in the Congress — and some others from the INDIA bloc — of secretly working to weaken the alliance from within, in favour of the BJP.

A Trinamul leader said Mamata also could meet a delegation of the farmers’ movement, recently regenerated.

“Yes, a meeting with the leadership of the reinitiated farmers’ movement is also on the cards,” he said.

Salim-Adhir talks plan

CPM state secretary Md. Salim said on Wednesday he could meet Congress state chief Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury at Behrampore on Thursday, amid speculation on the two friendly INDIA partners coming closer in Bengal, in the wake of Mamata's distance from the Grand Old Party.