NEW DELHI, Jan 1: Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee today confirmed that the leaders of her party are carrying out ``informal talks'' with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for a tie-up for the 42 Lok Sabha seats in West Bengal.At the same time, the fiery West Bengal leader for the first time today revealed her grudge against Sonia Gandhi. ``I waited for her for nine days (last fortnight), but Sonia did not say anything about campaigning for the Congress. Had she shown some interest in the party, I would have unconditionally dissolved Trinamool Congress. But now it's too late,'' she lamented.Mamata is angry at Sonia for other reasons as well. ``Should we take it that she will campaign for Laloo Prasad Yadav-Sitaram Kesri combine in Bihar? How can she seek votes for a party (Rashtriya Janata Dal of Laloo) which has become a symbol of corruption in the country,'' she inquired.According to sources close to Mamata, the possible tie-up with the BJP is necessitated more by the near-empty coffers of the Trinamool Congress than for any other reason, ideological or otherwise. Mamata herself candidly admitted that she may not be able to bear the costs of fighting all the West Bengal seats. ``The ballot papers for each constituency cost Rs 35,000. I don't have this much money,'' she said.Mamata hinted that her outfit will go in for a straight seat-adjustment rather than any broad-based alliance with the BJP for the 42 Lok Sabha seats in West Bengal. A formula being worked upon in the Trinamool Congress, pointed out observers, entailed offering eight seats - from which the Congress never won - to the BJP. A barter essentially, this will solve the funds problem dogging the party, it is being reasoned.Extra attention is being paid to Mani Shankar Aiyar, another rebel Congressman who may find the going getting tougher with each passing day in the unfamiliar climes of West Bengal. Voters of the State are known to shun non-Bengali candidates as a matter of tradition, and therefore, keeping this in mind the Trinamool Congress is keen on fielding Aiyar from either Barrackpur, located on the fringes of Calcutta, or Darjeeling.Barrackpur, an industrial suburb of Calcutta with a sizable Hindi speaking population, may turn out to be a blessing for Aiyar, it is felt.From the BJP's side, the president of its West Bengal unit, Tapan Sikdar, is spearheading the talks with the Trinamool Congress leaders.Mamata, however, made it clear that the BJP will not be associated with Bengal Bachao Morcha, the Trinamool Congress-led forum being created with the express aim of countering the CPM in the State.She also does not see any threat in Sonia Gandhi campaigning against her in West Bengal. ``I have great regard for the Nehru-Gandhi family. But Sonia in Calcutta will have no effect on us whatsover. She will be a big zero,'' claimed Mamata.
