Kolkata, June 12: Suspended Trinamool Congress leader Ajit Panja, who had given a hint about returning to the Congress after Sunday's by-polls, today said he was yet to receive any formal offer of talks from the state Congress leadership in this regard. Panja, who considered Congress emerging as the second largest party in the Left-ruled West Bengal with its "transparency and accountability to the people," said he has been "impressed" by the gradual show of progress of the party (Congress) to win the hearts of the people.

"I appreciate the gesture of the PCC president Pranab Mukherjee and Somen Mitra, former PCC chief, in their recent press briefing that Congress will welcome me (Ajit Panja), but I have not been formally offered any talks to discuss joining Congress," he said.

Panja said that if any such offer comes, he would discuss it with the extended executive committee of 'mukta manch', an organisation floated by him after his suspension from the Trinamool Congress for alleged anti-party activities, before taking any decision.

The suspended TC leader, who has been dubbing 'Mamata Banerjee's party' as a "directionless party with no future", had recently taken part in a campaign programme along with Pranab Mukherjee, Somen Mitra and other state PCC leaders, in favour of his daughter Mahua Mondal who contested as the Congress candidate in the Vidyasagar assembly by-elections.

Earlier, on the eve of the by-polls in the seat, Panja said Sunday's polls would be 'an acid test' and he would gauge people's mood in the constituency before taking any decision to rejoin Congress.

Bureau Report