No truck with Cong -- Mamata

No truck with Cong -- Mamata
PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

NEW DELHI, JAN 18: Trinamool Congress today virtually ruled out snapping alliance with BJP for the sake of `mahajot' with Congress and said it was not averse even to a common manifesto with BJP in the forthcoming assembly elections in West Bengal.

Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee told reporters here after a meeting with BJP leaders from West Bengal that "mahajot (grand alliance) does not mean we have to break the existing alliance".

Replying to a question, she said "the suggestion given by them (BJP about a joint manifesto) is good and worth consideration," she said.

BJP state unit president Ashim Ghosh, who led a three-member party team to meet Banerjee at her official residence this evening, said "all anti-Left forces can unite under the wise and dynamic leadership and guidance of Mamata Banerjee."

Asked about seat-sharing with BJP in the assembly polls, Banerjee said it was not much of a problem. "Let the elections be announced first."

To a question on feelers by state Congress leaders about joining hands to fight the Left Front, Banerjee said "we are the original Congress in West Bengal. ..... Congress is a different party and they have to take a decision at the national level."

On the demand for imposition of President's Rule in the state, she said Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee was "extremely concerned" over the situation there.