Indian Government faces political turmoil after key ally pulls support

The Congress-led alliance government in New Delhi headed by Dr Manmohan Singh is facing a political turmoil, even as one of its key allies - Trinamool Congress has announced withdrawal of support. The ally's move is in protest over various issues, including hike in diesel prices and allowing FDI (foreign direct investment) in multi-brand retail. Presently, the Trinamool Congress has six ministerial berths in the Union Cabinet. Mamata Banerjee, the party president and Chief Minister of eastern most state of West Bengal, has directed her party's ministers to formally resign from the Union Cabinet on Friday. With 19 members (MPs) in Parliament's Lower House - Lok Sabha, the Trinamool Congress is the second largest constituent of the ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government. Without its active support, the Union Government would be reduced to a minority government, even as the effective strength would come down to 254 whereas the half-way mark is 272 required for running a government. Besides the diesel price hike and FDI, the Trinamool Congress is also miffed at the Government over its decision to limit the maximum number of LPG (cooking gas) cylinders to six to every household in a year. Addressing media persons (live on TV) in the eastern city of Kolkata on Wednesday, Mamata Banerjee demanded of the Government to partially withdraw the hike in diesel price, roll back the decision on FDI, and increase the number of LPG cylinders to 24 for every household in a year. Now, the political crisis that looms large in the face of the Union Government is how to muster enough support for running the government. There are two other regional political parties namely the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), which have 22 and 21 members in the Parliament, and could prove to be crucial in helping the Congress-led Government to complete its full term till May 2014. However, these two parties are also keeping the government by not revealing their commitment/support to the Government.