UPA gets a jolt, TMC withdraws support to govt

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Trinamool Congress, the second biggest constituent of the UPA, on Tuesday dealt a major blow to the Manmohan Singh government when it decided to withdraw its support on the issue of petroleum price hike, FDI in retail and corruption.

"We are withdrawing our support. Our 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.

However, Banerjee added a caveat saying if the Centre rolls back the decision on FDI in multi-brand retail, raise the cap on supply of subsidised LPG to 12 cylinders and reduction of diesel hike from Rs.5 to Rs. 3 or Rs.4, then the party would reconsider the decision to withdraw support.

She said the Central government was not a one-party rule. "The government depends on the support of others. But in Bengal, we have a majority of our own and we are not not dependant on others," she said.

Banerjee ruled out supporting the government from outside saying her decision was 'not half-hearted'.

Widening the attack on Congress, she brought in issues like coal block allocation scam, blackmoney and fertiliser price rise. "The FDI decision was taken to suppress the coalgate issue," the West Bengal Chief Minister said.

Accusing the Congress of indulging in 'blackmail politics', she said whenever it has trouble with any of its allies, it goes to the other.

"When it has problem with Mayawati, it goes to Mulayam. When it has problems with Mulayam, it goes to Nitish (Kumar of JD-U) and it is like that," Banerjee said.

Referring to the FDI decision, she said there are 50 million people in unorganised retail sector. "Where will these people go? There will be disaster. It has not been sustainable even in the West."