Trinamul Congress chief Mamata Banerjee said here on Monday that she would “continue” to support the UPA-2 government, but asked it “in return” to show her some “izzat” (respect), saying she would not “accept any humiliation”.
After a “good” meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in the morning, she indicated that the hike in lower class rail fares might be rolled back once her nominee Mukul Roy, minister of state for shipping, takes charge as railway minister on Tuesday. The fare hike “will be modified”, Ms Banerjee said.
With Mr Dinesh Trivedi’s resignation accepted on Monday, Rashtrapati Bhavan announced Mr Roy would be sworn in as a Cabinet minister at 10 am on Tuesday.
At the Trinamul MPs’ meeting in the evening, Ms Banerjee apparently avoided Mr Trivedi and criticised the Centre for carrying out a “financial blockage against West Bengal”. She also accused finance minister Pranab Mukherjee of not releasing the financial package sought by the state.
Ms Banerjee attacked the hike in railway fares at the meeting, saying it was “not proper”. Mr Trivedi, who was present and met his party chief for the first time after his defiance, chose to keep quiet, sources said.
Trinamul Congress sources ruled out Mr Trivedi’s expulsion from the party. “The question does not arise,” a party MP told reporters.