Allies gang up against UPA's plan to limit supply of LPG to 4-6 per household in a year

NEW DELHI: In what signals opposition from within the ruling alliance over pushing tough and unpopular economic measures, DMK leader MK Azhagiri has decided to boycott the meeting of an empowered group of ministers ( EGoM), convened on Friday, to consider limiting supply of subsidised LPG cylinders to 4-6 per household in a year.

What could be equally discomforting for the government is the strong opposition from the Trinamool Congress over the move. West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee has directed railway minister Dinesh Trivedi to attend the meeting and oppose the proposal. "The Congress will not be allowed to have its way," said a Trinamool leader who did not wish to be quoted.

Trinamool Congress General Secretary and Minister of State for shipping Mukul Roy has written a letter to Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, telling him that the government cannot count on his party's support for the proposal to limit supply of LPG cylinders.

Pranab Mukherjee heads the empowered group of ministers.

Azhagiri indicated his plans to boycott the meeting barely minutes after oil companies announced a 3.14 per litre hike in the price of petrol from Thursday midnight. In Chennai, the price of petrol will cross 70 per litre after the latest hike.

The last meeting of the EGoM, which considered the recommendations of the Task Force on Direct Transfer of Subsidies on Kerosene, LPG and Fertiliser, had deferred a decision on limiting the supply of subsidised LPG.

The limited supply of subsidised LPG would be for those who own a car, two-wheeler, house or figure in the income-tax list.

At present, records of LPG distributors of public sector companies shows that many households are taking as many as 20-30 cylinders each year.