Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee’s decision to withdraw support to the UPA government at the Centre — following the announcement on FDI, increase in the price of diesel and restriction on the number of LPG cylinders — has rendered the government less stable and created ripples in political circles. The move was on the cards, considering Ms Banerjee’s threat to withdraw support on and off. The next few days will be important. It will be interesting to see how the government responds to the latest challenge.
Brij Raj Sahani,
Lucknow
Leaders like Ms Banerjee think they can hold the country to ransom, thanks to what they perceive as their tremendous “bargaining power.” By virtue of the few seats she has in Parliament, the Trinamool leader deems it fit to withdraw “support” to the government as and when she thinks her own support base is waning. What she forgets is that she is a leader who has no proven national record and whose support base is regional. She is grossly overestimating her clout. It is time the UPA government showed the regional parties the door.
Sharada Sivaram,
Chennai
Much was made of Ms Banerjee’s move when she embarrassed the UPA government during the presidential elections. It appeared then that she would pull out anytime. But she did not. What we see now is her second “show.”
Abid Pasha,
Hyderabad
It has been proved yet again that there are no permanent friends or foes in politics. Ms Banerjee’s move may push the country to mid-term polls.
M. Somasekhar Prasad,
Badvel
The UPA has been pacifying one ally or the other since it came to power in 2004. People have become mute spectators to what political leaders do in the name of coalition politics. It is clear that no party will get a majority in future too. The Constitution should be amended to say once a government is formed, it need not prove its majority for the next five years. If necessary, it can be dismissed by a two-thirds majority in Parliament. This is the only way to ensure that an elected government functions without being blackmailed.
P.A. Saravana Perumal,
Sullurpeta