"I am always hopeful of a solution to a problem and I am confident that Mamata will join the Union Ministry whenever its expansion takes place," Fernandes told reporters on his arrival from New Delhi at the Patna Airport here. He said Mamata had promised him that she would visit Delhi after Ramzan Id to talk with Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on the current impasse.

Asked whether a compromise was being evolved on the Trinamool Congress' demand for Railway portfolio, Fernandes said induction of ministers or allocation of portfolio is the prerogative of the Prime Minister.

When asked whether his Cabinet colleague and Samata Party leader Nitish Kumar would vacate the Railway Ministry chair for the Trinamool Congress if the Prime Ministerso desired, he termed the question as `hypothetical'.

Meanwhile, the West Bengal BJP on Tuesday hit back at the Trinamool Congress for levelling charges against the BJP-led coalition at the Centre. Describing Mamata's charges that "the BJP is neglecting Bengal" as baseless, State BJP president Tapan Sikdar said, at a party rally held here on Tuesday evening, that "the allies are forcing the government to spend more time pacifying them".

He said, "The first three months of the Government were exhausted pacifying AIADMK leader Jayalalitha, then it had to face a nation-wide conspiracy by the Congress and the Left on onion prices and now it's Mamata Banerjee."

Sikdar who presided over the rally said, "Our allies must understand that unless the Government is allowed to function, it cannot deliver the goods."

He said when the allies level such charges against the Centre, they must also realise their commitment to give the Government enough time to function.

Earlier, expressing the state unit's displeasureover the Trinamool's stand on joining the ministry, State General Secretary Rahul Sinha said, "We will be happy if the Trinamool Cong accepts Vajpayee's offer to join the Union Cabinet."