Trivedi's fate to be decided by Trinamool: Cong

Congress today gave signals that the Government was in no hurry about the exit of Railway Minister Dinesh Trivedi but made it clear that his fate had to be decided by Trinamool Congress.

The party also gave indications that there appears to have been a re-thinking over the issue within the ally in last two days and hence it could buy time at least till the passage of the railway budget.

At the AICC briefing, party spokesperson Manish Tewari said the decision over Trivedi was the "internal matter" of Trinamool Congress but also made it clear that the Railway Budget was now the "property" of the House and a decision on it would have to be taken by all.

Significantly, his remarks came close on the heels of Trinamool Congress leader Sudip Bandopadhyay suggesting that a decision on Trivedi's fate could be taken any time as his party supremo Mamata Banerjee held talks with Prime Minister.

"As of now I do not think the country is without a Railway Minister...We will cross the bridge when it comes," he said when asked whether Trivedi will reply to the discussion on the Railway budget likely on Monday or any of a Junior Minister, the Finance Minister or a new Railway Minister.

A senior party leader speaking on the condition of anonymity said, "The bottomline is that we are going to run this government and have to run the government for the full term and hence will have to deal with these pulls and pressures".

He also ruled out the possibility of "forsaking" the government for anybody.

There is a view in the party that leaders of Trinamool Congress have mellowed down in the last two days and two days are at hand for working out a more amicable solution.