New Delhi: Chances of Trinamool Congress leader Mamta Banerjee returning to Vajpayee Cabinet appeared on to brighten after National Democratic Alliance (NDA) convenor George Fernandes on July 14 spoke to her on telephone and later said the Alliance was keen to see her back in Vajpayee government and a top Mamta aide hinted at her rejoining the Cabinet.

A day after the Centre decided to refer the Eastern Railway split issue to the Union Cabinet, Mamta attended a meeting of NDA on July 14 evening following the telephonic talk with Vajpayee in the morning. This was the first time in recent past that she attended NDA meet.

"We are very keen that she joins the government," Fernandes told reporters when asked whether she had been asked to join the government.

Mamta had linked her return to the Cabinet to a review of the decision to bifurcate the Kolkata-headquartered ER and create a new Railway zone based in Hajipur in Bihar.

Fernandes said the bifurcation issue did not figure in the NDA meeting on July 14.

Before leaving for Delhi, Mamta, talking to reporters in Kolkata, referred to her talk with Fernandes and welcomed the decision to reconsider the bifurcation issue but reserved comment on rejoining the government.

However, Pankaj Banerjee, chairman of TC policy-making body, told reporters in Kolkata that after the Centre's decision that the Cabinet would reconsider the bifurcation, "there is no hurdle in rejoining the government" and TC Parliamentary party would take a decision in this regard.

PTI