Mamata Banerjee withdraws support to UPA government

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday night declared that Trinamool Congress would pull out of the UPA government. After a two-hour long meeting with ministers, MPs and party leaders, she said said that it was not feasible for Trinamool Congress to remain within UPA II.

At a press conference in Kolkata, Mamata Banerjee said: "We are withdrawing our support. Our six Trinamool ministers will go to Delhi, meet the Prime Minister and tender their resignations at 3 PM," TMC chief and West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee announced after a meeting of party MPs, top leaders and office-bearers.

"We are never being heard, so what is the use being in the Centre? I have given enough chance to the UPA II, but the Centre is only taxing the poor people. The price of petrol, diesel, fertilisers are on the rise. Even the government is putting enormous pressure on the common people by hiking the price of LPG." The Trinamool chief had wanted 12 cylinders per family at a subsidised rate, but it was not honoured.

Mamata had repeatedly threatened to withdraw support after petrol prices were hiked and following her threats the Centre had rolled back the price of petrol partly.

Banerjee said the FDI decision was unveiled to divert attention from the coal blocks allocation controversy involving the government. Moreover, there is no attempt by the Centre to bring back black money that is stashed abroad, she said.

Mamata said that the Congress leaders had been regularly criticising her, but the Trinamool had been part of UPA II, but now it was not possible to continue with the Congress.

However, it is a matter to be seen if the Congress ministers in Mamata Banerjee's government will continue or will step down. As many of the state ministers of Congress are willing to step down until they are compelled to do it.

Mamata Banerjee had been demanding before the Centre for a bailout package for West Bengal.

A section of the political experts, however, are feeling that the Trinamool is keeping hopes alive that the Prime Minister might roll back some of his harsh decisions and will approach the Trinamool for reconsidering the decision. However, some of the experts felt that this decision to withdraw support has once again helped Mamata to improve her image in public.

On Saturday, Mamata had walked on the streets demanding a roll back of diesel price and of fertiliser. She said that attempts were made by Congress-ruled government to kill the common people, which she cannot endorse and for that she had to take this harsh decision to pull out from the Centre.

The decision brings the UPA's effective strength in the 545-seat Lok Sabha from 273 to 254, which is slightly below the half-way mark.

This would make the UPA more dependent on the Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party, both of which extend outside legislative support to the UPA regime.