Mamata Banarjee not to attend Sonia Gandhi's Iftaar party

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday expressed inability to attend Congress president Sonia Gandhi's Iftaar party in New Delhi on Monday.

"Thank you Sonia Gandhiji for your invitation to Iftar on Monday. My good wishes. As I am in Kolkata, Derek O'Brien will be in Delhi on our behalf," Banerjee said in a statement.

Gandhi's invite to Banerjee to the Iftaar came just a week before the monsoon session of parliament.

A section of state Congress leaders want an alliance with CPI(M) to take on Banerjee-led Trinmoool Congress in next year's Assembly poll.