Congress hopes to find 'middle path' in Bengal as fissures widen in INDIA bloc

Amid growing discontent in the opposition INDIA bloc and increasing pressure on the Congress, the party on Saturday said it was the responsibility of all constituents to strengthen the alliance, and announced that the party was hopeful that INDIA will fight as an alliance in West Bengal.

- Saubhadra Chatterji

In some states, the allies are in a "very good fix" and will announce the seats at an appropriate time, Congress's communications chief Jairam Ramesh said.

Ramesh said that Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge has "established contact" with Banerjee and as "she always said she wants to defeat the BJP, that's what gives us hope that we can find a middle path... We are hopeful that INDIA bloc will fight in an alliance in Bengal".

Ramesh's comments came two days after Banerjee declared that her party will go solo in West Bengal and claimed that the Congress has rejected her offer of two seats.