On the backfoot in its tussle with the Congress over the presidential elections after A.P.J. Abdul Kalam announced he would not contest, the Trinamul Congress said Monday it was still a part of the UPA-2 government and had never wanted to topple it.
It also made it clear, though, that if the Congress leadership considered it as a “burden” on the government, all Trinamul ministers at the Centre would not hesitate to resign.
West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee chaired a meeting with all Trinamul MLAs and MPs at Town Hall to discuss the presidential election. TMC Lok Sabha leader Sudip Bandyopadhyay later denied reports that the party’s Central ministers had submitted their resignations to Ms Banerjee. “These reports are baseless and untrue. The Congress is not capable enough (of running) the government at the Centre alone. Trinamul Congress is the second largest party in UPA-2 and has extended support... We won’t topple this government. But if it (Congress) thinks the Trinamul is a burden and is unwanted, our ministers will resign. They are mentally prepared for it,” Mr Bandyopadhyay said.
At the meeting, Ms Banerjee said the Trinamul Congress was not in the UPA-2 government at the Congress’ mercy. “They (Congress) don’t have a majority to run the government. In West Bengal, we have a clear majority with 187 MLAs. If the Congress does not want to continue in the state government, it can quit,” she said.