TMC may withdraw its ministers from UPA Government
New Delhi: Trinamool Congress Chief Mamata Banerjee may withdraw TMC ministers from the government against allowing FDI in multi brand retail sector. The sources say that the Trinamool Congress would continue to support the Congress led UPA government from outside.
Party insiders said one serious option that could be considered is withdrawing its Cabinet Minister for Railways and six other Ministers of State at the Centre unless the government rolls back some of its decisions at least partially.
They said the way out could be that the Centre could affect a token cut on the Rs five per litre hike in diesel prices and give more subsidised LPG cylinders and not restrict them to six.
However, TMC, which has 19 MPs in Lok Sabha, is said to be strongly opposed to allowing FDI in multi-brand retailing.
TMC sources said that the party was not in a mood to rock the UPA boat by withdrawing support to the government.
Banerjee had told a rally here on Saturday, “We are not in favour of quitting the government. We are always in favour of not breaking the alliance. But we are committed to the people
The sources also say that Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee can once again join hands with Samajwadi Party Chief Mulayam Singh Yadav over the issue of FDI in multi-brand retail. SP MP Kiranoy Nanda has hinted at this future development.
Earlier, Mamata Banerjee and Mulayam Singh Yadav had forged a very short-lived alliance in July prior to the Presidential poll. But Mulayam had turned his back and left Mamata in the midway forcing the latter to support the candidature of Pranab Mukharjee for the top constitutional post.
