Mamata's drama bears fruit; Trivedi sends resignation to PM

New Delhi, Mar 15: Railway Minister, Dinesh Trivedi, on Thursday sent his resignation to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh following high drama by TMC after chief minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee, acted tough over the increased passenger fares in the Rail Budget.

Sources reveal that the PM has already accepted to Mamata Banerjee's demand to accept TMC's Rajya Sabha MP, Mukul Roy to take over as the rail minister.

The Congress may also contemplate on a partial rollback in the fare hike as proposed in the Rail Budget, which have been hiked for the first time in 10 years since 2002, said sources.

The Congress Core Group met following the West Bengal Chief Minister's fax to PM Singh demanding that Trivedi be sacked, few hours after he presented the rail budget.

Sources also reveal that Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee spoke to Mamata and asked her to wait till the Union Budget is presented on Mar 16. Mamata remaining firm on her stand, asserted on Trivedi's removal, resulting in Congress's stooping into her demand, saying it was her choice to choose the Railway Minister.

OneIndia News