Will Congress join Trinamool Cabinet in Bengal?

A final decision on Congress joining the new government in West Bengal at the invitation of ally Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee will be taken by the party high command, senior Congress leader Pranab Mukherjee said on Sunday.

"We will take a final decision after discussions with the Congress high command. The decision will be disclosed at the appropriate time," Mukherjee told a press conference.

He, however, said the Congress would extend all support to the new government.

"I congratulate Mamata Banerjee for this fantastic win. It is a very big achievement to defeat CPI-M within just 13 years of forming her party. It is her victory," the Union finance minister said.

"The people have shown faith in her and we hope that she will bring about fiscal restructuring, peace and uphold democratic norms in the next five years and we will cooperate with her through all means," he said.

On the Congress accepting 65 seats offered to it by Banerjee, which had led to resentment in a section of the party, Mukherjee said he had accepted the offer considering the ground realities.

"I had refused to listen to others and decided to accept fewer seats considering past experience," he said.

"In 2006, we had fielded candidates in all 294 seats and won in only 21 assembly constituencies," he said.

The Congress this time won 42 out of 65 seats it fought.

"I am very happy that after a long time, the Congress will be able to send a member to the Rajya Sabha from West Bengal on its own strength," he said.

Asked about his son Abhijit Mukherjee winning from Nalhati which had been a Left bastion, Mukherjee said, "My son fought the elections as just another Congress candidate. I gave him the same time as I did to others."

Asked about the win as a father, Mukherjee smiled, "I am obviously happy as a father that he has won."