Cong decision on alliance with TMC today

Bengal Congress leaders here were expecting a call from Sonia to Union finance minister Pranab Mukherjee on Sunday for working out a rapprochement formula. But Sonia, it is learnt, would meet Mukherjee on Monday after her return and take a final call. Hectic parleys were held at the finance minister’s south Kolkata residence here both on Saturday and Sunday with state Congress leaders.

Interestingly, Mukherjee did not make any effort to talk to the TMC leader even though both of them are in town on the occasion of Holi. The finance minister who gave the local Congress leaders a patient hearing, was understood have explained the reasons for an alliance. The  leaders are planning to troop to the capital on Monday to present their viewpoints to the Congress high command. The Congress has been eyeing at least one-third (90) of the (294) seats in West Bengal.

“We want an alliance with TMC to defeat the Left government in the state,” AICC General Secretary in charge of West Bengal Shakil Ahmed said.
Though differences over number of seats were reported to have been narrowed down, dispute continued to persist over quality or winnability of seats.