The possibility of reconciliation between the Congress and the Trinamool Congress looked remote on Wednesday, 24 hours after a mercurial Mamata Banerjee withdrew her party’s support to the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government, both parties stuck to their positions. Unmoved by Ms. Banerjee’s strident attack on it, in a second televised press conference, the Congress, instead, focused its energies on mustering the numbers to survive a no-confidence motion, in case the Opposition acts on its threat.
The message from the Congress core group, which met for two hours on Wednesday morning, was that the West Bengal Chief Minister was not to be humoured any more, though the lines of communication would remain open. If the Trinamool is prepared to hear the Congress out, Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram told journalists, he would be ready to explain why the economic reforms had to be pushed through. However, the party was confident, a senior Congress functionary said, that it had the numbers to defeat a no-confidence motion; in case of an accident, it was even prepared to face an early election rather than give in to the Trinamool and the Opposition’s demands for a rollback of its recent decisions.
Indeed, sources in the Congress added that when the six Trinamool Ministers hand in their resignations to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday afternoon, the Congress’ two Cabinet ministers in the West Bengal government — Manas Bhuniya and Abu Hena — will also put in their papers. On Wednesday, Mr. Bhuniya and Mr. Hena took the first step by boycotting a Cabinet meeting called by Ms. Banerjee in Kolkata.
In Delhi, the day began with a meeting of the Congress core group at Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s residence at 10 a.m. The Congress leaders — including Dr. Singh, Ministers A.K. Antony and Mr. Chidambaram, president Sonia Gandhi and her political secretary Ahmed Patel — discussed the ramifications of Ms. Banerjee’s announcement, whether any concessions were possible and how the party should marshal its forces in case the Opposition moved a no-confidence motion.
Shortly after the core group dispersed around noon, Congress media chairperson Janardan Dwivedi told journalists that Ms. Gandhi had directed all Congress Chief Ministers to raise the cap on annual subsidised LPG cylinders for households from six to nine. What remained unspoken was that the other State governments could follow suit.
Mr. Dwivedi also stressed that after Ms. Banerjee made her announcement on Tuesday night, she sent a message to Ms. Gandhi saying that she would like to speak to her. However, when Ms. Gandhi called back, “communication could not be established.”
Efforts were also made from the Prime Minister’s Office to talk to Ms. Banerjee but “no communication has been established so far,” he said.
Thereafter, the Group of Ministers on media, headed by Mr. Chidambaram, met. Those present included Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni, Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and Minister of State in the PMO V. Narayanswamy
Keywords: Trinamool pull out, withdrawal of support, UPA strength, UPA government, Congress-Trinamool alliance, Congress reaction
We are agree that BJP is opportunist party if they will not change his
double speak he will be only marginalised player think about country
oppose when reqd. and support the government also.about mamta she has no
vision to how to run the country &economic reforms they are regional
player public should teach lesson to this type of politician
"the nation cannot afford to vote for the likes of Mamata Banarjee, communists,marxists and other left and socialist parties at all. "...what a democratic statement !!
I hope PM Singh and Congress President Sonia Gandhi stand their grounds and not give in to the blackmail tactics. India's future is at stake and that cannot be dictated by a short-sighted politician without a vision for India or her state's future.
The recent increase in the price of crude , due to the tension with Iran , would have been one of the reasons , why the centre was forced to increase the price of diesel . Ms Banergee decision was very swift , without considering the consequences , and i believe the congress has nothing to loose .Even if a non confidence motion is not in their favor , they will call for early elections , and even if they don't have majority , they don't care , as no one will be able to rule as both the bjp and even the so called third front , will never have a majority .
At the en of the day , the politicians won't loose anything .The common man will have to take the brunt of the election expenses and the fund raising of political parties .
Our INC leaders are always bothered only about nunbers, every time there is some crisis it is said that there is no threat to the govt. We have sufficient numbers. it is a question of survival of the rulers always.To hell with the aam aadmi.
there is hardly any worry on UPA side for securing votes.They have
already proved during the last time (floor test) that mp's can be
purchased -A small price for the scams. It would be noteworthy to
see if this time also the congress succeeds with no Amar Singh on
its side .
With the national elections round the corner, the nation cannot afford to vote for the likes of Mamata Banarjee, communists,marxists and other left and socialist parties at all. The BJP as is usual has no economic national strategy and has joined the bandwagon of Banarjee and the leftists just to spoil the show of the congress. Choosing between the lesser of two evils, the nation would do well to give a thumping yes to the congress to be able to rule at the centre without the help of other parties so as to enable it to carry on with much needed economic reforms to raise the standard of living of the common man. Bengal should get rid of Banarjee as she is building a wall against economic reforms
Its about time, bold decisions are made and not held hostage the regional players
who have no responsibility to cut deficit or accountable for growth. The regional parties want the cake and eat it too. The BJP for its part blames the Congress for government paralysis and when reforms and actions are announced, they oppose. What do they want? BJP's Gujarat CM has pulled the state forward and it is held as a role model. But when Congress tries do the same, it is touted as anti people.
With the Congress and the coalition government it leads, tainted as they are by corruption
charges, and with the people reeling under continuously rising prices of essential items of
mass consumption due to inflation, the Congress party finds itself losing friends all over
except in a section of the media. It is therefore difficult to believe that Mulayam Singh and/or
Mayawati or any other party which is not already doing so will prop up the sinking ship of
UPA. The BJP will rejoice if coalition of parties already accused of corruption keep the
government afloat. Just deserts are awaiting the Congress. If I were saying this in a
television debate, the tv anchor would have pounced on me.
With the Congress and the coalition government it leads, tainted as they are by corruption charges, and with the people reeling under continuously rising prices of essential items of mass consumption due to inflation, the Congress party finds itself losing friends all over except in a section of the media. It is therefore difficult to believe that Mulayam Singh and/or Mayawati or any other party which is not already doing so will prop up the sinking ship of UPA. The BJP will rejoice if coalition of parties already accused of corruption keep the government afloat. Just deserts are awaiting the Congress. If I were saying this in a television debate, the tv anchor would have pounced on me.
All political parties are doing "VOTE BANK POLITICS". The concern for the well being of the Aam Admi, the nation is all about story telling which most under fed aam admi does not understand, they are too busy to stay alive.
After the long chapter of communist rule Bengal is now in the hands of a honest emmotional women who listens to her heart and keeps the mind blank.
The Congress President Sonia Gandhi has reportedly asked Congress Chief Ministers to
increase the quota of subsidized gas cylinders in their States. Why then is she not giving a
similar direction to the Prime Minister? She might have asked the PM to increase the quota,
but he might have refused in his eagerness to re-establish his reputation as an economic
reformer before he is thrown out of office by either the electorate or the Congress President
(to make room for her son). A political drama is well and truly on!
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