The Congress appears to be in a dilemma on whether to protect its pro-poor image or go ahead with the reforms by curtailing subsidy on petroleum prices.
The Congress’ “crisis managers” met here on Monday evening on the eve of the Trinamul Congress’ deadline for rollback of diesel price hike, LPG subsidy cap and FDI in retail. The 72-hour deadline will end on Tuesday.
Though there is no forward movement on the Trinamul front, the Telangana issue figured in the meeting, which lasted for over an hour at Mrs Gandhi’s residence at 10, Janpath.
The Congress, which had won 2004 and 2009 Lok Sabha elections on the “aam admi” plank, wants to go ahead with the reforms further.
But the diesel price hike and LPG subsidy cap is affecting the aam admi directly and indirectly.
The Trinamul Congress, led by West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, has so far remained firm in its opposition to these decisions knowing well that it could lead to its political isolation and affect the interest of West Bengal in the long run.
The Congress-ruled Delhi government on Monday decided to help around 3.5 lakh beneficiaries of “Kerosene Free Dilli” scheme to purchase three more LPG cylinders at subsidised rates in a bid to provide relief to economically-deprived families.
The decision came three days after the Union Cabinet restricted the supply of cooking gas cylinders at subsidised prices to six per year for a family and the Trinamul Congress’ threat of coming out of the government.