New Delhi:
The Prime Minister is likely to make a last attempt to persuade the Trinamool Congress to reconsider its decision of exiting the UPA government when its ministers come to resign. The TMC's six ministers are expected to resign on Friday.
(Poll: Should the government give in to Mamata Banerjee?)At the same time, sources say, both the Congress and the government are standing fast on the reforms decisions taken last Friday that have now put the UPA government in a minority in Parliament, following the TMC pull-out.
The government also remains confident that it will manage the numbers and survive a trust vote if required in Parliament.
The sources said that both the PM and Congress Chief Sonia Gandhi are unanimous in their decision to push through the reforms. Both the party and government are firm that there will be no rollback on foreign investment in retail as well as the hike in diesel prices and a cap on subsidised LPG cylinders for homes.
The party has already announced that the states ruled by it will increase the cap on subsidised cylinder from six to nine. Delhi has already done so for the poor.
About the reported secrecy around the Cabinet decision on allowing FDI in multi-brand retail, the sources say that the decision was taken on September 14. The PM consulted Sonia, and allies Sharad Pawar and Farooq Abdullah. DMK's T R Baalu was also informed.
The government consciously decided not to circulate papers before the Cabinet meeting regarding FDI in retail. Most cabinet ministers were also in the dark about the consultations on FDI and that Cabinet would take it up soon.
A day before the Cabinet meeting, commerce minister Anand Sharma spoke to Mamata Banerjee but did not raise the issue of FDI in retail with her.