Sunday, March 19 2006 14:15 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Buoyed by its prospects in Kerala, Congress has stepped up pressure on Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee for a tie-up in West Bengal telling her to decide by tomorrow whether it was ready to align with it in assembly polls to throw Marxists out of power.

"We cannot be party to any front in which BJP is a part. Mamata has to decide whether she wants to fight Marxists or Congress. We are determined to fight the Marxists. Banerjee has to decide whether she wants a secular front," AICC General Secretary Margaret Alva told sources.

Throwing the ball in Trinamool Congress court, Alva said time was short as the Congress Screening Committee for scrutiny of candidates would start its work tomorrow.

Alva, who is in-charge of party affairs in West Bengal, said Mamata has to decide whether she wants to "Go with three per cent vote of the BJP or 20 per cent vote of the Congress. Time is running out. She cannot blame us later."

The AICC General Secretary has held talks with the Trinamool Congress leader at least twice during the past one month, but the issue of alliance had failed to materialize due to several reasons, including Mamata's party being a part of the BJP-led NDA.

Alva's statement came a day after the Trinamool Congress and the BJP failed to reach an understanding on seat-sharing despite a lengthy meeting between Banerjee and BJP General Secretary Arun Jaitley.

West Bengal is going to polls in five phases next month.