The day after Rly minister says mid-term polls could be sooner rather than later

Barely 24 hours after the Congress debacle in the Assembly elections, Dinesh Trivedi, railway minister and senior leader of UPA?s largest ally, the Trinamool Congress, said there is a gathering political momentum for general elections that could come ?sooner rather than later.?

Speaking at the Idea Exchange at The Indian Express, Trivedi said that after Tuesday?s verdict, the Samajwadi Party and even the Trinamool Congress would want to see a mid-term poll so that they ?can increase their tally? in Parliament.

n Continued on Page 2

?Why only TMC? I feel after yesterday?s results…If I was Samajwadi Party, I would be very happy to have a General Election tomorrow so I can increase my tally because I have the momentum. The Trinamool Congress may also be happy to have a mid-term poll now rather than two years later. If there is a perception that there is an anti-Congress feeling (in the country) then, obviously, even BJP would want an election now. So if everybody wants an election, there will be election,? he said.

Given the restiveness of the regional allies and their gains, Trivedi said, not much could be expected in the session of Parliament. ?Today we are almost in a position of a status quo, nothing big ticket will get sanctioned (in Parliament). It will be very difficult even to run this Parliament because everybody is aspiring and everybody feels we are in a critical situation. There is not going to be (any) reform,? Trivedi said.

Trivedi underlined that it was crucial for the Congress to get the ?pulse of the people.? ?If I am in a situation and a position of a lame duck then I think it may be a good idea to call it a day,? he said when asked about the UPA government finding itself in a ?policy paralysis?.

Hours before the Railway Minister?s comment, Congress President Sonia Gandhi had sought to downplay the differences with allies. Asked about the possibility of allies like the Trinamool Congress becoming more demanding in the wake of the electoral, she had told reporters: ?It is my view and also of the Prime Minister that if we regularly keep in touch and talk with our coalition partners, I hope that all the issues beneficial to the people and the country, they will understand and they will support.? The Congress President also held detailed discussions with party in charge of West Bengal Shakeel Ahmed on the party?s equations with the Trinamool Congress.