AICC general secretary and Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s political secretary Ahmed Patel called up Trinamul Congress chief Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday evening and requested her to defer her decision on seat-sharing till March 21 when Mrs Gandhi is supposed to return from her UK trip. “Didi informed him that it was
impossible for her to wait for so long. She told him that she would wait till Thursday and thereafter announce names of her party candidates,” a close Mamata aide revealed.
Ms Banerjee explained to Mr Patel that time was running out since the Left Front had not only announced its candidates’ list but also released its manifesto and embarked on poll campaign. The seat-adjustment talks between the Congress and Trinamul Congress seem to have reached a deadend. “Last night I told you that discussions are on. Discussions are inconclusive. I have nothing more to add,” Union finance minister Pranab Mukherjee said on Wednesday morning before leaving for Delhi.
After returning to Delhi Mr Mukherjee informed Mr Patel about what transpired during his talks with the Trinamul Congress chief. A state Congress leader said that Ms Banerjee’s unwillingness to part with Port seat for the Congress was the main bone of contention between the two parties.
“Congress candidate Ram Pyare Ram has won the Kabitirtha seat six times in a row. Now after delimitation, the seat has ceased to exist but the newly created Port seat covers the same geographical location. How can she deny us this traditional seat and how can she not give even a single seat to the Congress in Kolkata?” a senior state Congress functionary asked.