Ranchi, March 20: The prospects of an alliance between the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and Congress brightened today with JMM chief Sibu Soren leaving for New Delhi, accompanied by Stephen Marandi, for the “final round” of talks with Congress leaders.

The talks are supposed to begin at 8 pm and a formal announcement is expected by late tonight or tomorrow morning.

The two parties have virtually agreed to put up a “friendly fight” in Rajmahal and Koderma. However, on the remaining 12 seat “we will contest in full alliance and will put up a united show against the BJP,” said a senior Congress leader.

Marandi said JMM was going to Delhi with hope. “We have decided to leave the Singhbhum seat for the Congress. We have given this to the Congress leaders in writing. But there will be no compromise on the Rajmahal and Koderma seats,” he said.

“JMM is going with the hope that the alliance with the Congress will be formalised today. Having given up Singhbhum, we will be left with five seats. I don’t think the Congress should have a problem with the formula,” he said. Summing up the mood in JMM, secretary Shailendra Bhattacharya said: “Varta ki gaadi patri pal chal rahi hai aur kal station pahunch jayegi (the talks-train is on track and it will reach the station tomorrow).”

Sources said the Congress has “almost” conceded to JMM’s demand of “friendly fights” in Rajmahal and Koderma “in the larger interest of defeating the communal forces”. However, Jharkhand Pradesh Congress Committee president Thomas Hansda, insisted: “There is no question of giving our two sitting seats to JMM.”

Asked what, then, was the purpose of holding repeated talks, Hansda said: “It is not the Congress which is interested. JMM needs the alliance. They keep requesting more talks.”