Cong set to clinch seat-sharing deal with TMC

New Delhi: Differences between the Congress and Trinamool Congress over seat-sharing for the West Bengal Assembly polls appeared to have narrowed down on Sunday with the two parties holding a series of confabulations involving senior party leaders.

Sources said that Congress has whittled down its wish list from 100 to 75 seats while Trinamool, which was initially offering only 45 seats, is now willing to go up to 60 in the 294-member state Assembly.

Mamata Banerjee's emissaries Mukul Roy and Sultan Ahmed held parleys with Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and CWC's member in charge of Congress affairs in West Bengal Shakeel Ahmed in a "very cordial" atmosphere, the sources said.

The meetings took place a day after Congress President's political secretary Ahmed Patel had a talk with TMC chief Mamata Banerjee on the seat-sharing issue.

Sources said that a formal announcement in this regard is likely after Mukherjee visits Kolkata in a day or two.

The TMC leaders had a two-hour meeting in the day with Ahmed, Janardhan Poojari (the Congress screening committee chairman in charge of West Bengal) and party's state chief Manas Bhuiyan.

"There is nothing wrong in political parties seeking larger number of seats for themselves. It is so natural in an alliance. Every party wants the best deal for it," Ahmed said.

TMC is inclined to agree to 60 seats to Congress which includes 39 of the 49 assembly segments where Congress had a lead in the last assembly elections.

Sources in Congress said that the initial offer of seats by Banerjee's party included only around 10 winnable seats, adding, in any case both parties have to contest on some tough seats.

"Talks took place in a very cordial atmosphere and we are hopeful to reach an agreement very soon," a senior UPA leader said.

After the meeting with TMC counterparts, Congress leaders briefed Mukherjee about the talks. Later, party leaders from West Bengal led by Bhunia also met Mukherjee.

West Bengal Assembly elections will be held in six phases starting April 18. Congress has six MPs and 19 MLAs in the state while Trinamool Congress has 19 MPs and 30 MLAs from the state.