With calculations that the mid-term polls could be held in the next six to eight months, Trinamul Congress is set to hit streets from the next week to agitate against the “controversial” initiatives of the UPA government in opening FDI in multi-brand retail, hike in diesel prices and capping the LPG cylinders to six for a household a year.
The Trinamul Congress is also to move a motion against allowing the FDI in multi-brand retail in the next session of the Parliament and would press for division of votes, said sources. The party is banking on the strategy to position itself as the real Opposition to the UPA on “anti-people” measures having been taken by the government.
“Next week, all party MPs will stage a sit-in at Jantar Mantar in the capital to protest against the government’s recent decisions. This will be the beginning of our agitation and also launch of the party’s campaign for larger role in national politics in the run up to the likely mid-term polls in the next six to eight months time,” said a senior Trinamul functionary.
Former minister in the UPA and Muslim face of the Trinamul Congress Sultan Ahmed said the party would be staging a sit-in at Jantar Mantar on September 26 to protest against the government decisions and the party would seek to spread its influence outside West Bengal.
Meanwhile, the Trinamul Congress, in its letter of withdrawal of support given to the President Pranab Mukherjee, on Friday accused the UPA of violating its assurance in Lok Sabha of allowing FDI in multi-brand retail only after consulting stakeholders, including the party, which was the second largest constituent of the alliance.
The letter, which was signed by the former railway minister Mukul Roy, also accused the UPA of having taken several decisions impacting the common man without reaching a consensus. Mr Roy stated that in view of “anti-people policies” of the UPA, the Trinamul Congress has unanimously decided to withdraw its support with immediate effect.