WBPCc to accept any decision by High Command on tie-up

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As the seat-sharing talks between the Congress and the Trinamool Congress are poised to enter the final phase, the Congress unit in West Bengal today said it would abide by any decision taken by the high command in this regard.

WBPCC chief Manas Bhuniya, who returned from Delhi after discussion with Congress president Sonia Gandhi, general secretary Rahul Gandhi and others, said there was no obstacle in the alliance between the two parties.

"There is no obstacle in the process of alliance and I am very much hopeful of the matter being sorted out so that we can take on the CPI-M jointly," Bhuniya told reporters at WBPCC office without going into any controversy regarding the number of seats the Congress would like to be offered.

Asserting that the Congress-Trinamool alliance remained and would continue, the PCC president said primary discussion had already been held between the top leadership of the two parties on seat-sharing.

"I have made a request to the high command to complete the process so that the alliance can launch the common campaign programme," he said.

Bhuniya said that a meeting between Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee is likely to take place here tomorrow to concretise the electoral alliance.

Bhuniya, who refused to answer about the number of seats he had reportedly demanded which created a controversy, said, "As WBPCC president, I have a responsibility to project aspirations of the state unit before the high command and I have done so during my talks with the AICC in Delhi."

He said the dignity and prestige of the organisation would have to be preserved while finalising the seat-sharing deal.

"No person or organisation can survive without dignity or prestige and what I have submitted to the AICC about aspirations of the state unit, is under consideration," he said.

The PCC chief said that WBPCC was in talks with some smaller parties like the 'Adivasi Vikas Parishad' in north Bengal for an electoral alliance in order to form a Mahajot (grand alliance) with the Trinamool Congress.

Bhuniya said he was in favour of finalising the deal quickly "as electoral alliance is a must".

The WBPCC chief earlier announced a 17-member Manifesto Committee, headed by CLP leader Abu Hena, at the instance of AICC observer (in charge of WB) Shakil Ahmed.

"If necessary, a combined manifesto with Trinamool Congress will be prepared," he said.