Addressing a press conference at the Pradesh Congress Committee headquarters on CIT Road here on Friday, Manas Bhunia, the president of West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee, said: "We will decide on whether to join the government after a discussion with our senior leader Pranab Mukherjee, who is scheduled to arrive in the city later today."
Mukherjee, the Union Finance Minister and the senior-most Congress leader from the state, will be accompanied by Shaqeel Ahmad, the All India Congress Committee (AICC) member responsible for the party's West Bengal unit.
"The Pradesh Congress Committee has convened a meeting of the newly-elected Congress members of the Legislative Assembly on Sunday," Bhunia said.
Strong message
Given the fact that Congress has been out of power in Bengal since 1977, this is probably the party's best chance to regain some political prominence in the state.
Bhunia refused to be dragged into any speculation on the number and nature of ministerial portfolios that the Congress could be lobbying for with Mamata.
Sending out a strong message to those within the party who were opposed to an alliance with Trinamool on Mamata's terms, Bhunia said: "We fought these elections jointly with Trinamool and the people of Bengal have given us a huge mandate. It is, therefore, our duty to respect this mandate and offer all possible help and cooperation to Trinamool Congress and Banerjee to ensure smooth running of the new government."
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