Mamata Banerjee still a valuable ally: Congress

NEW DELHI: Congress has not lost all hopes on ties with Trinamool Congress which announced the decision today to withdraw from UPA, saying it still considers her a "valuable ally" and will discuss the concerns raised by Banerjee with the government.

"We have always considered Trinamool Congress our valuable ally. Even after all that Mamata Banerjee has said, we still consider her our valuable ally till a final result comes out," Congress general secretary Janardan Dwivedi told reporters here.

His comments came immediately after TMC chief Mamata Banerjee announced withdrawing support from UPA and stating that the ministers from Trinamool Congress will resign from the Union Cabinet on Friday.

Dwivedi said Congress party "will definitely discuss the issues raised by Banerjee with the government".

"We will see then what is the final result, he added. Congress sources said party President Sonia Gandhi is expected to discuss with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh very soon the issues raised by Mamata.