In north Bengal, a traditional bastion of the Congress, leaders like Deepa Dasmunsi - wife of Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi and Adhir Chowdhury are not in favour of a Congress-Trinamool alliance because it will result in seat-sharing. “The party’s interests should not be compromised while forging an alliance,” Chowdhury said.

On the other hand, Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee has her party’s interests to consider in north Bengal. According to a source in the party, as Trinamool has negligible presence in the region, there is an apprehension that the few leaders based there could defect to the Congress to keep their election hopes alive. “If there is no alliance, the prospects of Trinamool candidates are poor,’ he added.

In south Bengal, where the Congress has always been weak, leaders like Subrata Mukherjee are all for an alliance with the Trinamool. In the last few months, the Congress has taken double hits with the exit of Somen Mitra and Sudip Bandyopadhyay. Both south Bengal leaders had joined hands with Banrejee with an eye on the Lok Sabha elections, a source in the Congress said.

Mukherjee, a former Trinamool leader, supported the alliance saying pre-conditions will only harm the possibility of an alliance. “Discussions should be held directly between the Congress high command and Mamata. If the Opposition votes are divided, it will benefit the CPM,” he added.