Zeenews Bureau
New Delhi: In an apparent move to mollify West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Congress on Monday said that Trinamol Congress is an important constituent of the UPA coalition government and there is no rift between the two parties.
Rejecting speculation that Trinamol Congress was mulling to quit the Congress-led coalition,
Congress leader Shakeel Ahmed said, “There is no rift between the Congress and the Trinamool Congress. Mamata Banerjee’s party is an important ally. We hope that TMC will respect the decision taken by the Congress-led coalition.”
On the issue of difference between the two parties on the presidential candidate, Ahmed said, “APJ Abdul Kalam’s decision to pull out of the Presidential race should be respected and we hope that Mamata banerjee’s party will vote in favour of Pranab in the Presidential Election.”
Congress leader’s reaction came shortly after reports claimed that Trinamool Congress Ministers in the UPA cabinet have submitted their resignation top the party chief to build pressure on the Congress government.
However, a Trinamool Congress MP later denied that the party was considering to quit the Congress-led UPA coalition.
Speaking to reporters, TMC MP Sudip Bandpadhya said that there was no truth in the matter.
The relationship between Mamata Banerjee and the Congress has hit rock bottom on the issue of Presidential polls with the unpredictable leader from West Bengal openly taking on the UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi on the contentious issue.
First Published: Monday, June 18, 2012, 21:26