An alliance between the Congress and the Jharkhand Vikas Manch (JVM) for assembly elections in Jharkhand is likely to be finalised in the next two days.

JVM President and former Chief Minister Babulal Marandi, who is supporting the UPA government from outside, today met AICC incharge of the state K Keshav Rao and party General Secretary Mukul Wasnik to stitch up an alliance in the state which goes to polls in the last week of November and December.

Marandi also met Ahmad Patel, political secretary to Congress President. He said Congress had approached JVM for an alliance and he has submitted the list of seats his party wants to Congress leader.

Sources said that in the 81-member House, Marandi wants to contest at least 40 seats while Congress is not ready to give more than 25 seats to his party. Congress sources have already ruled out an alliance with JMM and RJD, leaving Marandi's JVM as the only viable alternative for it in the state.

Congress has not managed to form a government on its own in Jharkhand ever since it was carved out of Bihar in 2000 but it has been a coalition partner of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha with Shibu Soren as the Chief Minister.