West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said Wednesday the vote in Lok Sabha on foreign direct investment in multi-brand retail proved that the UPA government was in a minority and demanded fresh general election.
"It is a shame! The mandate today proves that the UPA-II is a minority Government," Banerjee, who also heads the Trinamool Congress, said in a post on her Facebook page, after the opposition-sponsored motion seeking reversal of the central government's decision to let 51 percent foreign direct investment (FDI) in multi-brand retail was rejected.
"As against the majority figure of 271, based on the total strength of the house, the support was only 253, despite all attempts made by the selfish people," she said.
"This Government has lost its credibility. They must take fresh verdict from the people," Banerjee said.
The Trinamool Congress had proposed a no-confidence motion against the UPA government in the Lok Sabha Nov 22, on the FDI issue, but the motion was disallowed as it was not backed by the required number of members.
The Trinamool Congress pulled out of the UPA in September opposing the decision to give the green signal to FDI in multi-brand retail, reduction of subsidy in cooking gas and raise in diesel prices.