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Decision to hamper Congress in poll-bound States
Despite Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi's attempts to allay apprehensions of party MPs by saying that FDI is a non-issue in the Uttar Pradesh polls, the top Congress leadership realised that the decision will cost it heavily politically — what with four other States too scheduled to face Assembly elections. The threat to the existence of the Government in the long run was also not ruled out.
Not only does the Government heavily depends on the support of 18 MPs each from the Trinamool and the DMK for survival of the Government, but also since the UP elections are round the corner even the SP and BSP would have voted against the Government to embarrass the Congress.
Further, the frustration among the party leaders over the Parliament logjam was evident from the fact that they termed FDI in retail is a "right decision taken at a wrong time" and even expressed anger over the Government not consulting allies before taking the decision.
Though the Government tried to project a confident approach till Friday saying that allies are not with Opposition on adjournment motion and crisis managers even tried to garner support of smaller parties like RLD and RJD and independents, ultimately the realization dawned that it will be difficult to sail through in absence of support from allies.
So the Congress Core Group, headed by party president Sonia Gandhi, during its meeting on Friday evening, decided to put on hold the move. The job to convey the decision to Mamata was assigned to Finance Minister and UPA's main trouble shooter Pranab Mukherjee, who went to Kolkata to meet her but since the Chief Minister remained "preoccupied" with work, he ultimately spoke to her on telephone.
Since Parliament is in session, no official announcement by the government could be made outside it. However, Mamata spilled the beans by revealing that "Pranabda phoned me to seek our opinion and I told him that the Trinamool Congress remains firm in its opinion after which he said that the Cabinet decision on FDI in retail will be suspended until and unless a consensus is arrived at. This means that the issue is settled."
"Pranabda asked me as to how to solve the issue and I told her that this was not a political issue alone. It was an issue that concerned the common man, the retailers and the farmers and so we have to approach it cautiously making the stand of my part clear to him" the Chief Minister said reminding in a coalition Government convergence of opinions was the key.
Congratulating "all others who raised the issue, Banerjee said her party was more concerned about the interests of the farmers and the small retailers "which I will never be able to ignore". Interestingly, the Congress, which had so far been terming the decision a well thought out one, too did a simultaneous turnaround. Congress General Secretary Janardan Dwivedi confirmed Mamata's assertion saying, "The party welcomes all meaningful and fruitful efforts to break this stalemate. In such a situation a broad consensus is required among the different stakeholders."
His statement "Mamata is our valuable ally" conveyed that Trinamool Congress leader played a crucial role in making the Congress eat the humble pie in the entire controversy. Mamata denied that her Opposition on FDI was due to the denial of financial package to West Bengal.
Some Congress leaders tried to indicate that it is a temporary pause on the part of the Government while others said that they will highlight that Opposition BJP is supporting the cause of the middlemen and is anti-farmer, and hence is opposing FDI in retail.
Despite Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi's attempts to allay apprehensions of party MPs by saying that FDI is a non-issue in the Uttar Pradesh polls, the top Congress leadership realised that the decision will cost it heavily politically — what with four other States too scheduled to face Assembly elections. The threat to the existence of the Government in the long run was also not ruled out.
Not only does the Government heavily depends on the support of 18 MPs each from the Trinamool and the DMK for survival of the Government, but also since the UP elections are round the corner even the SP and BSP would have voted against the Government to embarrass the Congress.
Further, the frustration among the party leaders over the Parliament logjam was evident from the fact that they termed FDI in retail is a "right decision taken at a wrong time" and even expressed anger over the Government not consulting allies before taking the decision.
Though the Government tried to project a confident approach till Friday saying that allies are not with Opposition on adjournment motion and crisis managers even tried to garner support of smaller parties like RLD and RJD and independents, ultimately the realization dawned that it will be difficult to sail through in absence of support from allies.
So the Congress Core Group, headed by party president Sonia Gandhi, during its meeting on Friday evening, decided to put on hold the move. The job to convey the decision to Mamata was assigned to Finance Minister and UPA's main trouble shooter Pranab Mukherjee, who went to Kolkata to meet her but since the Chief Minister remained "preoccupied" with work, he ultimately spoke to her on telephone.
Since Parliament is in session, no official announcement by the government could be made outside it. However, Mamata spilled the beans by revealing that "Pranabda phoned me to seek our opinion and I told him that the Trinamool Congress remains firm in its opinion after which he said that the Cabinet decision on FDI in retail will be suspended until and unless a consensus is arrived at. This means that the issue is settled."
"Pranabda asked me as to how to solve the issue and I told her that this was not a political issue alone. It was an issue that concerned the common man, the retailers and the farmers and so we have to approach it cautiously making the stand of my part clear to him" the Chief Minister said reminding in a coalition Government convergence of opinions was the key.
Congratulating "all others who raised the issue, Banerjee said her party was more concerned about the interests of the farmers and the small retailers "which I will never be able to ignore". Interestingly, the Congress, which had so far been terming the decision a well thought out one, too did a simultaneous turnaround. Congress General Secretary Janardan Dwivedi confirmed Mamata's assertion saying, "The party welcomes all meaningful and fruitful efforts to break this stalemate. In such a situation a broad consensus is required among the different stakeholders."
His statement "Mamata is our valuable ally" conveyed that Trinamool Congress leader played a crucial role in making the Congress eat the humble pie in the entire controversy. Mamata denied that her Opposition on FDI was due to the denial of financial package to West Bengal.
Some Congress leaders tried to indicate that it is a temporary pause on the part of the Government while others said that they will highlight that Opposition BJP is supporting the cause of the middlemen and is anti-farmer, and hence is opposing FDI in retail.
