Mamata attends UPA coordination panel meeting

Trinamool Congress supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Wednesday attended the second meeting of the UPA coordination committee and discussed issues concerning the government.

Finance Minister P. Chidambaram said after the meeting that current issues concerning the government were discussed in the meeting.

"It was free-wheeling discussion," Chidambaram told reporters.

He said issues relating to economy, polity, relations with neighbouring countries were discussed.

Asked if he would like to meet Banerjee in the wake of government's intention to liberalise Foreign Direct Investment norms in some sectors, Chidambaram said he would "like to meet her."

The meeting was held at Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's official residence in the evening.

The coordination committee was formed last month to discuss key political and economic issues before the United Progressive Alliance.

Banerjee's party Trinamool Congress is firmly opposed to Foreign Direct Investment in
multi-brand retail, which the Congress is keen to push.

Banerjee did not attend the first meeting of the UPA coordination committee in Delhi Aug 8.
Banerjee was expected to meet some senior party leaders Thursday.

The meeting also discussed the stalemate in parliament in the wake of CAG report on coal block allocation and the Congress leaders emphasised on UPA unity on the floor of the two houses.

The Congress has rejected the BJP's demand for prime minister's resignation in the wake of CAG report.