Former TMC rail minister Dinesh Trivedi readying to hitch his wagon to BJP?

NEW DELHI: Trinamool MP from Barrackpore Dinesh Trivedi, who had to resign as railway minister in 2012 soon after presenting a rail budget that invoked his party chief Mamata Banerjee's ire, is in touch with the BJP. According to sources, he is unhappy with his party and is mulling joining BJP in the near future.

When contacted by TOI and asked if he was in touch with senior BJP leaders, Trivedi did not confirm or deny it. Importantly, however, he put on record his appreciation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while at the same time taking an apparent dig at the Trinamool Congress.

"I have known Narendra Bhai since 1990. I know his capabilities, his vision and sense of patriotism. So my being in touch with him is nothing new, to answer your query as to whether I am in touch with BJP.

"It is true that I appreciate his (Modi's) work. It is now evident that he is a man with a vision and a mission. And that is the reason the world is rediscovering India. This is the opportunity for all of us to join hands in rebuilding India," Trivedi told TOI from Kolkata.

Asked if he was unhappy with the Trinamool Congress, which has been vociferously opposing the government both in Parliament and outside, Trivedi again preferred to remain silent. However, he did point out that "in order to improve the economy of the state (of West Bengal), we (Trinamool) should reach out to the Centre and there should be no place for ego".

If Trivedi were to join the BJP, he would have to resign from his Barrackpore parliamentary seat, as per the anti-defection law.

Trivedi presented his maiden rail budget on March 14, 2012, proposing, among other things, an overall fare hike that had his party leadership fuming even as the budget received support from other quarters. A miffed Banerjee immediately wrote to then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to dismiss Trivedi. Though Singh stood by Trivedi, the latter, in the face of his party's pressure to exit, finally put in his papers on March 18. He was succeeded by Banerjee's trusted aide Mukul Roy.