ASSEMBLY POLL '98
COMMENTARY
SPECIALS
INTERVIEWS
CAPITAL BUZZ
REDIFF POLL
DEAR REDIFF
THE STATES
YEH HAI INDIA!
ELECTIONS '98
ARCHIVES

Samata MP warns Mamata against hijacking Railways

A Samata Party member of Parliament on Saturday took strong exception to Trinamul Congress president Mamata Banerjee's demand for allocating the railway ministry to her party, saying he would not compromise on this "prestigious issue".

Shakuni Chaudhary said his party was behind Railway Minister Nitish Kumar all the way and no one would be allowed to harm the party's interests.

The allocation of portfolios is the prerogative of the prime minister and Banerjee has challenged this right. His party will not allow her to go ahead with her "unjustified demand", he said.

He, however, made it clear that he was speaking in his personal capacity and did not divulge what transpired at the meeting of the party's parliamentary wing on Saturday to discuss the issue.

Samata Party sources said their president and Defence Minister George Fernandes, Kumar and other MPs were present at the meeting.

Chaudhary said Banerjee should not have gone public with her demand, that she should have discussed the issue with Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

He said the party would decide on its course of action only after the prime minister's stand on the issue is known.

In reply to a question, he said Vajpayee should allocate more portfolios to his allies as they are the main props of the government.

UNI

Tell us what you think of this report