Trinamool hopeful of tie-up with Cong.

By Our Special Correspondent

KOLKATA, MARCH 19. An exercise in forging a possible alliance between Ms Sonia Gandhi's Congress and Ms Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress began today with the Trinamool Congress sending out a positive signal in the shape of its unconcealed appreciation of the tone and essence of the just-concluded AICC session in Bangalore.

Welcoming Ms Gandhi's statement in Bangalore that the Congress would fight the CPI(M) in Bengal, the Trinamool leadership said it was a ``good sign.''

Though the picture is still not clear , chances are the Trinamool would enter into an understanding with the Congress on seats.``We would like to fight the coming Assembly poll with both Congress and BJP,'' Mr.Pankaj Banerjee, chairman of the Trinamool's policy-making body , commented. According to reports, Mr.Pranab Mukherjee, the Bengal Congress president, and Ms Banerjee would hold the crucial meeting on the seat-sharing issue on March 21 in Kolkata.

Analysts point out that, in all probabilities, Trinamool's alliance with BJP in Bengal would not last as the BJP would , on its own, snap ties if it finds the Trinamool supporting the Congress decision to put up candidates against the BJP nominees.Trinamool has allotted 39 seats to BJP.

The State BJP would be in a position to make its stand clear only after its leaders return from Delhi, where they are engaged in meetings with the party's central leadership to work out the poll strategy.

The relationship between Trinamool and the BJP is expected to suffer, if the latter decides to seek adjustments in at least 14 constituencies. Ms Banerjee would find it difficult to entertain the BJP's proposal for adjustments as she would have to accommodate a large number of Congress candidates in case an understanding with that party materialises.

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