TNI Bureau: The stand-off between Congress and Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress seems to affect their alliance in West Bengal after TMC quit the UPA II over the Centre’s decision on diesel price hike, cap on LPG cylinders and FDI in retail.
In a tit for tat method, Congress has decided to withdraw its ministers from the TMC government in West Bengal headed by Mamata Banerjee. The political move came shortly after 6 TMC ministers handed over their resignations to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today.
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Congress ministers in the West Bengal government said that they will resign and prefer to be main opposition in the state. While CPM claims to be the principal opposition party in West Bengal with 40 elected members, Congress has 42 MLAs.
While Mamata stayed firm on her decision not to give support to the UPA II till the rollback in diesel price hike, FDI in retail and increase the subsidised cooking gas to 12 annually, Congress remained adamant saying they have the numbers to stay in power.
Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav announced that he will extend his support to the government to keep the communal forces away, even though he is protesting against diesel price hike and FDI in retail.