Mamata angry, Trinamool to abstain from voting

In the first signs of strains within the UPA, Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday claimed that her party was kept in the dark over the way the Women's Reservation Bill was being passed in Rajya Sabha. Reports say that the Trinamool Congress has decided to abstain from vote.

In the first signs of strains within the UPA, Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday claimed that her party was kept in the dark over the way the Women's Reservation Bill was being passed in Rajya Sabha. Reports say that the Trinamool Congress has decided to abstain from vote.

HT Image

Even as discussion and voting on the issue was on in the Upper House, an angry Banerjee said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had given her party the understanding that there will be an all-party meeting on the issue.

But with the bill being suddenly taken up for discussion and voting, she said she could not mobilise her party MPs in the Rajya Sabha. TMC has 2 members in the Upper House.

She said it was made clear to her yesterday that the measure will not be adopted the way it was being done.