By IANS,
New Delhi: Despite battling a string of corruption scandals, the Congress is hopeful of doing well in upcoming state assembly elections.
“Political situation in each state is different. However, on the balance, we will come out as winners,” Congress spokesman Manish Tewari said Wednesday.
Two of the five states listed to go to the polls in April-May are governed by the Congress: Assam and Puducherry.
The Congress is also hopeful of dislodging the Left Democratic Front in Kerala and to be on the winning side in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal though the contests would be tough.
Party leaders said the Congress is expected to expedite seat-sharing talks with the DMK in Tamil Nadu and the Trinamool Congress in West Bengal.
They said two rounds of talks had been held with the DMK, and formal talks will take place with the Trinamool soon.
The Congress has reportedly sought at least 75 seats from DMK and a power-sharing deal if the alliance retains power but the latter has agreed to part with only 53 of the 234 seats.
Congress sources said informal seat-sharing discussions had been held with the Trinamool for the 294-member West Bengal assembly. The Congress wants to contest about 95 seats.
Ahmed said the election outcome will benefit the Congress nationally and strengthen the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA).