Mamata may pull out ministers, give outside support

Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress may consider pulling out its ministers from the govt and give outside support to it if the Centre does not heed to its demand for fuel price hike and FDI in multi-brand retail rollback. Differences would be solved: Cong | PMO highlights benefits due to reforms

With the Centre taking some hard decisions not acceptable to it, Trinamool Congress, a major UPA constituent, may consider pulling out its ministers from the government and give outside support to it.

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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 effect a token cut on the Rs. 5 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.

In New Delhi, Congress Spokesperson Rashid Alvi said, "Mamata Banerjee is our respected and valued ally. We never discuss our internal matters with the media, nor do we comment on our allies like that."

Trinamool Congress chief and West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee during a protest rally against diesel and LPG prices hike, in Kolkata. HT/Subhankar Chakraborty

Party sources said Banerjee was shocked at the way the central government was taking "anti-people" decisions one after the other.

Meanwhile, Rashid Alvi, Congress spokesperson expressed confidence of sorting out the matter with the Trinamool chief.

"It is an internal matter, Mamataji is a respected cadre of the government, we do not want to make any comment. Even if we have some differences we will sort it out," he said.

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee speaks at a rally in Kolkata. AP