TMC burns UPA's happiness over fuel hike; threatens to walk

New Delhi/Kolkata, Nov 7: With the Trinamool Congress, key UPA ally determined to mount pressure on the Centre to reverse the petrol price hike, the issue took a nasty turn when TMC Ministers sent in their resignations to party chief Mamata Banerjee. The TMC MPs are expected to meet PM Manmohan Singh on Tuesday to demand the rollback of prices.

Sudip Bandyopadhyay, Chief Whip of Trinamool Congress Parliamentary Party in Lok Sabha has been quoted as saying, "I have sent a letter to the PMO seeking an appointment on November 8. I am expecting that the appointment will be fixed on November 8 since the PMO told me that he (Singh) will be abroad on November 9". He added, "After a talk with the Prime Minister, we'll return here (Kolkata)on November 9 and report to party supremo Mamata Banerjee who will take the final call."

It has also been reported that Mamata has asked 18 of her MPs to reach New Delhi to discuss the matter with the PM and the UPA top brass.

The TMC is also irked by the fact that it was not consulted as a major ally on the decision regarding the price hike. The TMC intends to demand a change in the “operational structure" of the UPA. Derek O'Brien, senior Trinamool leader commented, "The party will seek quarterly meetings to involve allies in decision making."

With the TMC determined not to take the issue lightly, there are chances that Mamata could pull out its ministers in case the impasse continues. The TMC has a total of 18 members in the Lok Sabha. The Trinamool Congress parliamentary party had earlier authorized the party chief to take a decision that they will pull out of the government if the Centre failed to roll back the prices.

OneIndia News