Dinesh Trivedi not to resign as Railway Minister till weekend: Government

NEW DELHI: After Trinamool leader and member of UPA-II government Sudip Bandopadyay told media that Dinesh Trivedi's resignation as the Railway Minister was a matter of time, the government has made it clear it will keep hands off this resignation issue over the weekend. This puts to rest speculations on the immediate removal of Trivedi from the post.

The government has made it amply clear that Rail minister Dinesh Trivedi will remain in the chair till the union budget is presented and passed. A senior government official told ET: " Its there internal problem. We are hands off this weekend. Let them sort this out."

Earlier on Thursday, Sudip Bandopadyay had said that the Railway Minister Dinesh Trivedi could be removed from his post any moment. "Dinersh Trivedi will be removed any moment now," he said.

His statement came after Mamata Banerjee's meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh where the former had made it clear that Trivedi should be removed immediately.

Citing earlier precedent of Mamata Banerjee in 2001 when she had resigned after presenting the rail budget once the Tehelka revelations broke out over NDA, Mr Bandopadhyay said that the party was keen to replace Mr Trivedi immediately.

Meanwhile, earlier in the day there was also speculation that Manmohan Singh could take temporary charge of the rail portfolio following Trinamool leader Mamata Banerjee withdrawing TMC nominee Dinesh Trivedi as cabinet minister.

Mamta Banerjee is believed to have recommended Mukul Roy as her nominee for the Minister of Railways. Finance Minister, Pranab Mukherjee is likely to hold talks with Mamata Banerjee to explore if the ministerial change can wait till the budget is passed. The government, however, is also working on a back-up plan.

However TMC denied the reports and said it hasn't asked Trivedi to resign.

Trivedi today attended Parliament and said it is his "duty" and he will be in Lok Sabha during the Question Hour as scheduled to reply to queries raised by members.

"I am going to Parliament as a Minister. I have come for Question Hour. I have to anwser my questions. I am doing my duty, let me do that please" he told reporters at his residence and outside Parliament House before entering Lok Sabha shortly before the commencement of Question Hour in the House.