Ahead of Goa assembly elections, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) party’s offer for a poll pact has found little favour with the Congress, whose high command is miffed with TMC brass for its recent anti-Congress rants that led a war of words on social media.

Reports stated that discussions were held between top leaders of the two parties, and Trinamool wanted a seat arrangement with the Congress for the state polls due on February 14.

Also read: Goa Assembly elections 2022: Seat-sharing talks fail, Shiv Sena-NCP to contest without Congress

“We were ready to give the Congress even up to 16-18 seats in Goa,” a senior TMC leader said. “Our poll partner Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) had announced candidates in nine seats, and the Congress told us that it is in a strong position in one of MGP’s seats. We even assured them that we would talk MGP to give up that seat for the Congress.”

Hindustan Times reported that the talks also involved a possible seat-sharing agreement in which the TMC, keen on a pact to take on the incumbent Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), were ready to give the Congress the majority of seats.

Also read: Goa Assembly elections 2022: Seat-sharing talks fail, Shiv Sena-NCP to contest without Congress

“We initially maintained that both Congress and TMC have nearly same tally in Goa assembly and both sides can fight in equal number of seats,” the TMC leader said. “But then we have communicated that given the Congress’ long presence in Goa, we are ready to give more seats. But they didn’t show any further interest.”

One of the Congress leaders pointed out that the party brass is miffed with the TMC’s top leadership for its unwarranted attacks on the Congress.

Also read: Goa elections 2022: Aam Aadmi Party announces 2nd list of candidates; check details

On Monday, former finance minister P Chidambaram, Congress’ in-charge for the Goa polls, posted a series of tweets explaining the party’s stand vis-a-vis TMC.

“My assessment that the AAP (and the TMC) will only fracture the non-BJP vote in Goa has been confirmed by Mr Arvind Kejriwal. The contest in Goa is between Congress and BJP. Those who want a regime change (after 10 years of misrule) will vote for the Congress. Those who want the regime to continue will vote for the BJP,” Chidambaram tweeted.

Also read: Congress displeased; BJP, AAP upbeat after assembly polls 2022 announcement

The Congress’ response came two days after TMC’s Goa in-charge Mahua Moitra tweeted: “AITC serious about defeating BJP. Uninformed false bravado is no substitute for rational thinking & maturity. Definitive offer between principals on table – waiting for revert. No desire to engage in further Twitter shadow boxing with various INC functionaries.”

The election to the 40-member Legislative Assembly of the state of Goa will be held on February 14, 2022. The results will be declared along with 4 other states on March 10, 2022.

Also read: Election officers will get 3rd dose, says CEC Sushil Chandra

The state of Goa has 40 constituencies. In the previous elections held in February 2017, the Bhartiya Janata Party had formed a government in the state, appointing Manohar Parrikar as the Chief Minister.

In the elections, BJP had a vote share of 32%, surpassing Congress by 4%. After the demise of Manohar Parrikar in 2019, BJP’s Pramod Sawant was sworn in as the Chief Minister of the state on March 17, 2019.