Railway Ministry will remain with Trinamool, says Mamata

Railway Ministry will remain with the Trinamool Congress and there was no pressure from Congress on the issue, said party chief Mamata Banerjee here today.

"Trinamool Congress is an ally of the UPA and the Railway will remain with the TMC. It will have one cabinet berth at the Centre," Mamata told reporters when asked whether Railway Ministry will be taken away by the Congress at the Centre.

After winning West Bengal assembly elections, Mamata resigned from the Railway Ministry and Mukul Roy, her trusted lieutenant in the party became Minister of State for Railways.

However, till date Railway Ministry does not have a Cabinet Minister and Prime Minister is looking after the Ministry which is giving scope for speculation that Congress may stake claim of the ministry.

"It is a Prime Minister''s prerogative (to select his Cabinet). Since Trinamool has only one Cabinet berth, it will be Railways. However, it is PMs choice to take a final decision," she said.

Mamata today met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and also the President Pratibha Patil in the evening.

While it is believed to be a courtsey call on President, she is understood to have sought urgent financial assistance for West Bengal during her meeting with the PM.