With coalition partner Trinamool Congress scheduled to take a call on continuing support to the UPA government at its parliamentary party meeting today in Kolkata, the Congress appeared confident that the crisis will blow over. Congress leaders confirmed that negotiations were on to placate the TMC chief Mamata Banerjee and were optimistic that tempers would be defused by evening. TMC leaders however continued the suspense saying that all options were open.
AICC incharge of Bengal, Shakeel Ahmed speaking to Business Standard exuded confidence that “things would work out”. Ahmed reiterated that TMC was a ‘responsible ally” and Banerjee herself had stated that she was not interested in toppling the government.
While there was no question of roll back on decisions like FDI in multi brand retail, Congress sources maintain that the possibility of “tweaking” the number of LPG cylinders to households or reducing the diesel price by a rupee at the most.
Congress spokesperson Renuka Chowdhury speaking to reporters said, “We remain optimistic. (We) appreciate her (Mamata Banerjee‘s) complusions. We remain hopeful.” She added, “Negotiations are on. Not wise for me to comment.”
That the Congress and the government were working on reaching out to Banerjee was evident although they were not ready to catapult to her demands for total surrender.
As Chowdhury said, “It is the business of the government to have conversation with allies…We are hopeful will be able to work out working relationship.”
As Business Standard had indicated yesterday, several TMC Union ministers are reluctant to give up their berths, should Banerjee choose to pull out the TMC ministers from the UPA government; therefore they have been subtly suggesting that the PM Manmohan Singh should talk to Banerjee to cool down tempers.
As a senior Congress leader said, “In the worst scenario, Banerjee might decide to pull out her ministers from the government but then that would not affect us, as the TMC would continue to support us from outside. Like the BSP and the SP, Trinamool too might render outside support and is not interested in pulling the plug on the UPA.”
