New Delhi, May 9 -- Maharashtra Congress MLA Amin Patel on Saturday alleged that the "mistakes" All India Trinamool Congress' (AITC) prevented a proper "alignment" of INDIA bloc in West Bengal, which ultimately led to the party's defeat.

Patel said that in view of the Congress being a national party, AITC chief Mamata Banerjee failed to coordinate with the INDIA bloc leadership ahead of the Bengal elections. AITC is part of INDIA bloc in the Centre, but the party had decided to contest the April 23 and 29 assembly elections independently.

Speaking to ANI, Patel said that Banerjee should have held discussions with senior Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, much earlier regarding the West Bengal elections.

"C...