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PM agrees to a rollback in petro prices

Tara Shankar Sahay in New Delhi

Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's decision to partially roll-back the recent price hike in petroleum products has once again underscored Trinamul Congress chief Mamata Banerjee's clout in the ruling National Democratic Alliance.

According to the revised prices a cylinder of liquified petroleum gas will now cost Rs 10 less (Rs 232.25), while a litre of kerosene will be cheaper by Re1 (Rs 8.33).

The decision to rollback petroleum prices was taken at the NDA coordination committee meeting at the prime minister's Race Course Road residence on Sunday.

"I am glad Vajpayeeji has agreed to reduce petroleum prices. I hope [former West Bengal chief minister] Jyoti Basu, who was making fun of my efforts, has got the answer," said Mamata talking to rediff.com.

Mamata said she begun her agitation for a rollback when people in West Bengal complained to her about the rising cost of living.

Significantly, several ministers in Vajpayee's Cabinet, including Petroleum Minister Ram Naik and Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha, had opposed any reduction in petroleum prices.

However, that Mamata was determined to have her way became apparent when she rushed to Bombay recently where prime minister Vajpayee was recuperating after a knee surgery. While Mamata just wished the prime minister a speedy recovery, her visit was a hint that she was waiting for the prime minister to return to Delhi.

Sources said after Vajpayee returned to Delhi, the Trinamul chief took up the issue of the petroleum rollback with him.

During the last NDA co-ordination committee meeting, Mamata had raised the rollback issue but was told that the government needed more time to consider the matter. A miffed Mamata had told reporters after the meeting that she was "watching the situation closely."

The prime minister finally heeded to Mamata's demand taking cognisance of her increased interaction with Telugu Desam Party chief Nara Chandrababu Naidu, another votary of rollback.

The Vajpayee government apparently did not want to risk annoying both the Trinamul and the TDP - both vital allies in the government.

While the Trinamul has 10 seats in Parliament, the TDP has 29. While the Trinamul's pulling out of the Vajpayee government would not affect its stability, it would collapse if the TDP also followed suit.

With the rollback controversy taken care of, the Vajpayee government can now concentrate on the winter session of Parliament starting Monday.

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