Two crucial constituents of the ruling UPA government – Trinamool Congress and DMK – today sought to build pressure on the government to roll back the hike in the price of petroleum products, saying it would hurt the common man already reeling under food inflation. NCP, headed by Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar and which has nine MPs, is also said to be opposed to budget proposals on petroleum products. A day after the entire Opposition walked out of the Lok Sabha protesting against Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee’s proposals for increase in excise duties that led to a sharp spike in prices of petrol and diesel, leaders of the two crucial Congress allies appealed to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi to undo the decision.
Trinamool Congress, with 19 MPs, is the largest constituent of the UPA after Congress and DMK, the third big group with 18 MPs. At present, the UPA has the support of over 300 MPs in the 545-member Lok Sabha. SP (22) and RJD (4) have already opposed the decision to hike petroleum products prices and have demanded a roll-back.
