CALCUTTA, FEB 11: Apparently mollified by the Centre's acceptance of majority of the demands contained in the `Bengal package', Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee today indicated that the issue of her party's participation in the Vajpayee Government was still kept open.Asked about the renewed offer made to her by the Prime Minister to join his Government, Trinamool Congress chairperson Mamata Banerjee told newsmen that right now, she was not thinking about it.
The extended working committee meeting of the Trinamool Congress on February 21 would discuss the issue, she said.
Banerjee said that she would wait for the Railway Budget before considering the issue of joining the Union Cabinet.
The Prime Minister's special emissary Pramod Mahajan, who had announced acceptance of the demands mentioned in the package, said that sufficient funds would be allocated for the pending railway projects in the Rail Budget.
Trinamool Congress' decision to discuss the issue of participation in the Governmentassumed significance as Banerjee had last month categorically ruled out the possibility. She said this following BJP president Kushabhau Thakre's statement that the railways portfolio could not be given to Trinamool Congress, antagonising another ally the Samata Party.
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