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Mamata-PMO emissary to continue talks

While Banerjee did not come out of her room after the meeting, which lasted over two hours, her party sources said that she would have another round of discussion with the PMO emissary later on Tuesday.

Emerging out of the meeting at Banerjee's south Calcutta residence, Kulkarni initially refused to say anything to waiting newspersons. "I am not supposed to say anything," he said.

However, on persistent queries on whether the outcome of the meeting was good or bad, Kulkarni replied, "My smile should tell you everything."

Kulkarni, who flew in to Calcutta on Monday night drove straight to Mamata's residence at around 2330 hours (IST). The meeting began at 2340 hours and ended around 0150 hours.

BJP sources in New Delhi on Monday had indicated that the government was willing to consider a marginal rollback of the prices but did not quantify it. The offer would be discussed in detail by Kulkarni with Banerjee who resigned over the issue of the price hike and threatened to pull out of ruling National Democratic Alliance, the sources said.

Earlier, Kulkarni had come to Calcutta with Defence Minister George Fernandes soon after Banerjee had faxed her resignation to Vajpayee on Saturday.

Trinamul Congress' policy-making body chairman Pankaj Banerjee also indicated on Monday that the party has scaled down its demand in the form of partial rollback of petro-price hike.

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