Trinamool Congress adamant, wants Dinesh Trivedi to be sacked after Union Budget: TV reports

New Delhi - 15 March 2012: Hardening its stand against the Congress' position, theTrinamool Congress(TMC) has indicated that it will not wait till March 30 for the sacking of railway minister Dinesh Trivedi. A Times Now report says that the party wants him to be sacked immediately after the presentation of theUnion Budgeton Friday.

The sources have told that Congress called Mamata's bluff by agreeing to removeDinesh Trivedi, but only at a time that it wants to. This strategy was adopted afterSamajwadi Party(SP) chiefMulayam Singh Yadavassured support to Congress, neutralizing TMC chief Mamata Banerjee's her threat. SP, with 22 MPs inLok Sabha, already supports the UPA government from outside and has said it would pose no danger to its stability.

Trivedi has proposed upto 20 per cent passenger fare hike in hisrail budgetfor 2012-13, inviting the wrath of Mamata who has written Prime MinisterManmohan Singhto sack him.

When it was pointed out that the fare hike proposals were contrary to his party's policy, Trivedi said, "I have done it for the Railways and the country ... not for party. If I have to please my party, then I am not doing my work."

On the possibility of fare hike rollback, Trivedi said "the budget is in Parliament and I will be guided by Parliament. Parliament will be guided by the wisodom of people."

Congress troubleshooterPranab Mukherjeespoke to Mamata today following up on the discussions they had over telephone twice last night. TMC parliamentary party leader Sudip Bandopadhyay also met Mukherjee in Parliament today.

source: TNN