Kolkata Sensing the mood of the Congress leadership, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) is lowering its rhetoric on other issues where they have a disagreement with the United Progressive Alliance (UPA). One of the recent points of conflict was the speech made by the President of India Pratibha Patil in regard to the National-Counter Terrorism Centre during her address to the joint session of both Houses of Parliament.
The TMC wanted to table an amendment seeking deletion to reference to the issue, since its leader Mamata Banerjee thinks enacting such a bill will encroach on the rights of the state and affect the country's federal structure. Sources say the concerns expressed by the TMC chief will be addressed in the Prime Minister's reply.
Speaking to Gulf News, Sougata Roy, a junior minister in the federal government said: "If the Prime Minister's reply on the vote of thanks to the President is satisfactory, we will not move the amendment."
However, such a "rollback from the TMC is rare and the Congress leadership is certainly bemused.
"In the world of coalition politics, it not only about take. Trinamool has to learn to give," said a senior Congress leader.
Yesterday's union budget is also another point of consideration, where the TMC has not reacted adversely to any of the proposals made. "The budget is neither good nor bad," said TMC spokesperson Sudip Bandopadhay.
"Such a measured response to a budget which can be easily termed as inflationary is unlikely from the TMC. But sensing their hold on the Congress is diffusing, they have toned it down," said political analyst Sujoy Sen.
However, there is no let-up in their demand for the removal of Railway Minister Dinesh Trivedi.
