Time running out on Trinamool tie-up, says Congress

The Congress said on Tuesday that "time is running out" for finalizing seat-sharing with Trinamool Congress for coming Lok Sabha polls in West Bengal and talks are on between the two parties for reviewing some of the seats.

"Talks are on for review of some of the seats", said senior Congress leader incharge of West Bengal K Keshava Rao adding "I hope it will be done soo as time is running out". The state's ruling Left Front has already announced its candidates on all 42 Lok Sabha seats.

"Hopefully TC chief Mamata Banerjee will understand that it is her responsibility as well as my responsibility that our and her workers both are satisfied and happy", Rao said. State Congress leaders have expressed unhappiness over some of the seats offered by TC saying these are "difficult to win" because they are in the CPI-M strongholds in south Bengal.

Describing Banerjee as part of "our family", he said she had left Congress not due to any "idelogical reason" but over differences in approach.

Replying to another query, Rao said if the alliance with TC fails to materialise then Congress will decide about the future course of action. "I hope the situation will not come to that", he added. Suggesting the need for accomodation in tie-ups, he said "alliance is friendship and in friendship there are no differences. It is not only walking together rather walking hand in hand."