Not for toppling UPA, but don't raise prices: Mamata

Reiterating that her party, a key ally of the UPA, did not want to topple the ruling government, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee nevertheless indicated that she cannot be taken for granted.

Reiterating that her party, a key ally of the UPA, did not want to topple the ruling government, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee nevertheless indicated that she cannot be taken for granted.

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Awarded Indian of the Year by CNN-IBN in the politics category for achieving 'what was once considered unthinkable in West Bengal-ending a 35-year-old-rule of the Left Front', she said: "We do not want the UPA to be toppled but the government must see that they do their job properly…prices should not be raised."

Trinamool has been instrumental in pushing a determined government on the backfoot by opposing FDI in retail. "I am just a simple person, a nobody. I don't agree that we are one of the main pillars of the UPA government. We are a small party."

Asked which is more difficult-running a government or winning an election, Banerjee said: "There are so many problems (in running a government). This is a challenging job," adding that whatever commitment she makes before the elections, she tries to deliver as a party’s credibility is very important.

Besides Banerjee, Anna Hazare bagged the Indian of the Year Award. Other winners in various categories were Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni (sports), Dilip S Shanghvi from Sun Pharma (business), Team KBC and Amitabh Bachchan (entertainment). Cricketer Yuvraj Singh, Manipur Women Gun Survivors Network and ace shooter Ronjan Sodhi received special achievement awards. Verghese Kurien received the lifetime achievement award.