Mamata meets Sonia; asks Cong to be part of govt

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Mamata Banerjee, set to become West Bengal chief minister, today invited ally Congress to be part of her government as she met Congress president Sonia Gandhi here.

Banerjee, who reached Delhi last night, had a meeting with Gandhi at her 10, Janpath residence where she was given a warm welcome. She invited the Congress leader for the swearing-in ceremony of her cabinet, likely to be held on Friday.

"I have invited Soniaji for the oath ceremony. She will let me know," Banerjee told reporters after the meeting. To a question on whether Congress will be part of her ministry, she said, "Congress will be part of the government. I have invited them and they will let me know."

Asked about her replacement in the Union Cabinet, she said it was for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to take a call on the issue.

To a question whether her party General Secretary Mukul Roy could be a possible replacement, she said he came along with her to Gandhi's residence as he was available in the city.

"He did not attend my meeting with Sonia Gandhi. He was outside. He is here because we will have to give details of election (expenditure) to the Election Commission," she said.

Banerjee said she shared ties with the Gandhi family from the days of late prime minister Rajiv Gandhi.