New Delhi/IBNS, June 11 -- The Congress on Thursday firmly rejected speculation about a possible merger with the Trinamool Congress (TMC), describing such reports as unfounded and insisting that recent interactions between leaders of the two parties focused solely on issues of national importance.

The clarification came amid growing political chatter following separate meetings involving TMC chief Mamata Banerjee, party national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi.

Addressing a press conference on Thursday, Congress General Secretary K.C. Venugopal dismissed reports suggesting that the two parties were exploring a merger.

He maintained that...