Mamata pulls out of UPA over diesel price hike, LPG cap, FDI

Mangalore Today/ CNN-IBN

New Delhi, Sept 18: After her 72-hour deadline and an over three-hour long meeting in Kolkata with Trinamool Congress MPs and leaders, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday finally walked out of the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance Government.

Mamata Banerjee took the decision to pull out of the UPA after meeting her party leaders, which was attended by all the MPs including the six ministers belonging to the Trinamool Congress in the Union Ministry.

 

 

Addressing mediapersons after the meeting, the West Bengal Chief Minister accused the UPA of not giving the respect to the Trinamool Congress that it deserved.

She even said that the latest steps taken by the UPA were attempts to divert the attention of the country from the coalgate controversy.

Talking about the decision of her party, Banerjee said that her ministers in the Union government would resign on Friday.

"The Trinamool Congress stands for principles. We will organise country-wide agitations," said Banerjee, adding, "this government will last only three to six months."

The West Bengal Chief Minister said that the decision by the Centre was "unilateral", and even Parliament was not informed about it.

"I told Sonia Gandhi that this decision was wrong and asked for roll back but did not happen," said Banerjee. She, however, added that her "personal relations" with the UPA chairperson would continue.

The West Bengal Chief Minister even left a room for negotiation saying she might reconsider her decision if the government went for a roll back before Friday.

Reacting to the decision of the TMC chief, the Congress made a brief statement saying Banerjee continued to be a valuable ally.

Congress spokesperson Janardhan Dwivedi said, "Despite what Mamata has said today, till something finally happens, we will continue to treat her as our ally...she is still out friend."

"Whatever issues Mamata has raised, we will discuss those with the government," Dwivedi said.

However, sources in the Finance Ministry said that there was no question of a roll back on the steps taken by the government.

The Samajwadi Party, meanwhile, called her withdrawal of support "a very serious issue".

Samajwadi Party leader Ramgopal Yadav said, "The withdrawal by Mamata is a very serious issue. Congress should have given a chance to Mamata...almost all parties are against FDI, diesel price hike and LPG issue."

The Bharatiya Janata Party also attacked the UPA government over the issue terming it as a result of the "Congress’ arrogance of power".

"This is the Congress way of dealing with their alliance. They are not consulted in a Congress government," said BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar.

Senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad hit out at the government saying the "beginning of the downfall of the UPA government has started".

The BJP leader said that the decision by the Trinamool Congress chief had exposed the arrogance of the Congress party, adding that the "countdown has started".

Meanwhile, JD(U) leader and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar made a brief statement saying, "Whatever has happened is in the best interest of the country."

Another NDA constituent, the Shiv Sena hailed the Trinamool Congress chief over her decision, calling her the "tigress of Bengal".

Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut said, "Mamataji has proven to be the undoubted tigress of Bengal by sticking to her word. Shiv Sena congratulates her for withdrawing the support as per her commitment."

He further said, "All the allies should follow her noble doing and stand by Mamataji."

With the Trinamool Congress withdrawing support to the UPA, the strength of the ruling coalition in the Lok Sabha has come down to 254 from 273.

UPA - TMC(19) = 254

Now, if the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) continue to support the government, the UPA will have a strength of 279 in the Lok Sabha.

UPA(273) - TMC(19) + BSP(21) + RJD(4) = 279

The UPA could also look towards the Samajwadi Party, which has 22 MPs, for support. If the Samajwadi Party comes on board, then the UPA is assured of a very comfortable majority.

UPA(273) - TMC(19) + BSP(21) + RJD(4) + Samajwadi Party (22) = 301

Trinamool Congress leader Mukul Roy is of Cabinet rank and holds the Railways portfolio while other five MPs from the party are ministers of state. They are Minister of Urban Development Saugata Roy, Minister of Health and Family Welfare Sudip Bandyopadhyay, Minister of Information and Broadcasting Choudhury Mohan Jatua, Minister of Tourism Sultan Ahmed and Minister of Rural Development Sisir Kumar Adhikari.