KOLKATA: The Trinamool Congress today dismissed Railway minister Dinesh Trivedi contention that he has to reply in Parliament since he presented the railway budget with the party pointing out that Mamata Banerjee quitting the same ministry in 2001 following the Tehelka expose.
"There is a precedent. Mamata had resigned as railway minister of the NDA government after the budget presentation in 2001. The reply for the discussion was made by her successor Nitish Kumar. Mamata Banerjee knows the system," Trinamool Congress parliamentary party leader in the Lok Sabha Sudip Bandyopadhay told PTI.
He pointed out that the Trinamool Congress chief has already spoken Prime Minister Manmohan Singh seeking replacement of Trivedi by union minister Mukul Roy.
"The Prime Minister has agreed to in principle to effect the replacement at an appropriate moment. He is supposed to implement it," Bandyopadhay said.
He said in a coalition government the partner decided who would be its minister.
"In a coalition government, a party decides who would be its minister. The question of an individual does not arise."