MAKING the break from the UPA government formal,the six Trinamool Congress ministers at the Centre met the Prime Minister to submit their resignations on Friday while the party gave a letter to President Pranab Mukherjee withdrawing support. The party also demanded that the government go in for a vote on the issue of FDI in multi-brand retail in Parliament immediately. The TMC will move a motion the next time the House is in session on the matter. In a reciprocal gesture,six Congress ministers in West Bengal resigned from Mamata Banerjees government. Since the former leader of the House Pranab Mukherjee had during the last Winter Session assured that FDI in retail would be brought only after reaching a consensus among parties and stakeholders,it is ethically the governments responsibility to see that this (measure) enjoys the Houses support. We are certain that the government will find itself in minority if this motion is allowed, former railway minister Mukul Roy told The Indian Express. The party believes the UPA will not last more than six to eight months. The TMC will also step up protests,on the streets and in Parliament,including on other pro-reform measures. Delhi will see a dharna on September 26. The resignations on Friday were a brief affair,with PM Manmohan Singh reportedly telling the TMCs one Cabinet and five ministers of state that it had been nice working with them and that they were good allies.
