Trinamool Congress could pull out ministers

Ahead of the crucial meeting of Trinamool Congress parliamentary party, prominent leader Saugata Roy indicated that party could pull out its ministers from the Union council of minister if its roll back demands on FDI in retail, cap on LPG subsidy and diesel price hike were not met with.

Withdrawal of support from the government was, however, not discussed, Roy, also Union Minister of State for Urban Development, told PTI.

"Mamata Banerjee has not said anything sort of withdrawal of support. We will take a tough decision if the Centre does not accept our demands. We have two commitments - to fight the anti-people decisions of the UPA government and to see the stability of the government. We have to strike a balance between the two," he said.

He said the Centre was yet to make any offer to TMC Chief Mamata Banerjee. "Hard decisions would be taken if the Centre does not accede to the demands (of TMC). There will be no soft compromise. We do not bark but we also bite". Asked to comment on Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram's statement that the government will not roll back the decisions he said, "We know the prime minister has the last word."

TMC sources said the parliamentary party meeting would be an extended one with several senior party leaders and MLAs including the state ministers attending it.