The view that the United Progressive Alliance is shaky is not restricted to North Block; it’s rife all over Raisina Hill. Thus, to the general public, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee may appear to always get her way with the Centre, whether it is several deferments of service tax on rail freight, foreign direct investment in multi-brand retail or, most recently, a Rs 8,750-crore bailout package for her state. Government officials, however, don’t give credit to the former railway minister for this success. “She is not strong, it is the government that is weak,” said one official in a private conversation.
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