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M Chhaya in Kolkata
Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee said on Sunday evening that her party was open to joining the National Democratic Alliance government at the Centre provided the Eastern Railway zone was revamped.
The Trinamool wanted the bifurcation of the Eastern Railway zone, to create a smaller East Central Railway zone, to be scrapped. But when the NDA government refused to entertain Banerjee, the party revised its demand saying Dhanbad and Katihar divisions should remain with the Eastern Railway.
The Trinamool chief had virtually quit the NDA over the issue.
Defence Minister George Fernandes had called her up asked her to reconsider the decision to quit the NDA and speak with Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on the issue.
"The prime minister has wished to speak to us. We are hopeful of arriving at an amicable settlement to the bifurcation issue. In that case, we could even consider joining the ministry," Banerjee said before leaving for Delhi to attend Parliament.
On Saturday she had announced that the Trinamool will remain with the NDA during the winter session of Parliament, starting Monday.
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