KOLKATA: Defence Minister and president of the West Bengal PCC Pranab Mukherjee on Thursday ruled out the possibility of "any secret or covert understanding" with the Trinamool Congress for the coming Assembly elections.

He was reacting to comments by some CPI(M)leaders that even though the "mahajot" (grand alliance) proposal had fallen through, the Congress and the Trinamool had a covert understanding in certain constituencies.

"We had wanted seat adjustments or an alignment with the Trinamool Congress but had put before the party the condition that it part ways with the Bharatiya Janata Party [its senior partner in the National Democratic Alliance]. They refused to do this," he said.

The All India Congress Committee had a clear policy that it would have no truck with communal parties, Mr. Mukherjee said. "I do not believe there can be any such understanding [between parties]. Politics is an open game and there can be no underhand dealing or covert understanding," he said.

The Congress and its allies have announced that they will be contesting all the 294 seats in the polls. By doing so, the party has ruled out the possibility of an anti-Left alliance, an idea raised by Trinamool leader Mamata Banerjee.

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