Channels of communication between the Congress and the Trinamool Congress on the change of Railway Minister continue to operate with the party leader, Mr Sudip Bandopadhyay, holding consultations with the Finance Minister, Mr Pranab Mukherjee, on the issue in the Lok Sabha today on the sidelines of debate on President’s Address.
When the debate on motion of thanks on President Ms Pratibha Patil’s address was on, the TMC leader went to Mr Mukherjee’s seat to discuss the issue. The Finance Minister apparently told him something and Mr Bandopadhyay immediately grabbed a notepad to take down the points the Congress leader made.
Soon thereafter, Mr Bandopadhyay went to his seat and after a brief confabulation with other TMC members — including Mr Mukul Roy, whom the party supremo, Ms Mamata Banerjee, has reportedly named as the replacement for Mr Trivedi as Railway Minister — the party members left the House.
Among those who left in a hurry were the former TMC chief whip, Mr Kalyan Banerjee, and Mr Kakoli Dastidar. Mr Mukherjee also left within a few seconds.
The Finance Minister had earlier in the day made a statement in the Lok Sabha that Mr Trivedi has not resigned but a request has been received by the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, from Ms Banerjee for changing the Railway Minister and the matter is under “active consideration”.