Durgapur, Jan. 16: The Congress had written to Mamata Banerjee 10 days ago saying she would be made the Opposition?s chief minister candidate in the Assembly polls if she severed ties with the BJP.

Today, Pranab Mukherjee (in picture below), the defence minister and state Congress chief, said the Trinamul Congress chief has not responded yet.

?We sent a letter to Mamata 10 days ago expressing our willingness to project her as the alliance?s candidate for chief minister if she parts ways with BJP,? he said here.

?We, too, are serious about stitching together like-minded, secular anti-CPM forces. There is no problem if Mamata leads the alliance?. But she has to sever her NDA ties,? he added

Sticking to her earlier stand, Mamata today said she will not leave the BJP?s side.

The Trinamul chief added that she would go through the Congress?s letter if it has reached her home at all.