The face-off between the Congress and key ally Trinamool Congress (TMC) is likely to precipitate an internal conflict in the ruling party after assembly elections in five states end early March. A section of the Congress wants a snap poll if the party does well in the Uttar Pradesh polls and gains power in Uttarakhand and Punjab; others are keen to complete the tenure of the second United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government that ends in 2014.