Mamata Banerjee may pull out her ministers

With the 72-hour deadline given by the Trinamool Congress to the UPA government on FDI in multi-brand diesel and hike in diesel prices drawing close, the party is said to be contemplating withdrawal of its ministers from the Union Cabinet.

Sources said the TMC, which is the second largest partner in the UPA, may withdraw ministers and go in for issue-based support from outside. This course is based on the realisation that pulling out may not cause the government to fall as other parties may extend support to the UPA.

However, having made a public proclamation of its deadline, the party feels it has to take a decisive step should the Centre ignores its demands as seems likely. A TMC MP confirmed that till Sunday evening, TMC chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had received no placatory call from the UPA.

Apart from not bringing matters to a head, withdrawal of ministers also allows Mamata to keep equidistance from both the UPA and NDA for now. She can later take a call depending on how the situation develops.

While a section of the party feels exiting the ministry would have an adverse impact on development projects in West Bengal, Mamata is said to believe that withdrawal of support over FDI, hike in diesel prices and cut in domestic LPG subsidy would not be held against it by the public.

A TMC leader admitted that their internal assessments had also shown that the party's Lok Sabha tally would improve in case of a mid-term poll even without an alliance with the Congress. "The party has already decided to go it alone in the panchayat polls next year. The party's internal analysis is that if it gets control of over 14-15 zila parishads, it will be in a position to win at least 30 Lok Sabha seats if a mid-term Lok Sabha poll is held."

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