Trinamul suspends railway agitation

KOLKATA: The Trinamul Congress has decided to suspend its agitation against division of Eastern and South Eastern Railways.
A direction to this effect, reportedly from party supremo Mamata Banerjee, came to the party''s Kolkata headquarters on Friday evening.
Speaking to TNN over the phone, senior Trinamul leader Pankaj Banerjee confirmed that such a decision has indeed been taken."We are talking to the Prime Minister. Since the dialogue is going on at the highest level, we decided to wait and watch the situation," Banerjee pointed out.
Banerjee went on to explain that since the Prime Minister has taken an interest in the matter, some time must be given. "After that, we will sit down and take a decision once again," Banerjee said.
Though Banerjee tried to reason out the move, there is clear division in the Trinamul Congress party over the issue. "It is a shame that we cannot hit the streets over such an issue. It was Mamata Banerjee who had signalled an all out movement against division of Eastern Railway. Today''s decision will hurt the party bad," said a Trinamul general secretary.
In fact, the directive from party supremo came after Trinamul workers went all out on Thursday to protest against the railways'' decision. Demonstrations were organised at Kolkata''s railway establishments at Fairlie Place and New Koilaghat Street, led by party general secretary Ashish Chakrabarty and youth wing leader Sanjay Bakshi.
Party leaders are crestfallen at the decision. "Once again, it is the MLA brigade that was able to exert its influence to stall the agitation," rued a general secretary. Since the Trinamul is negotiating with the NDA about returning to the cabinet, spearheading a movement against a railways at this time would act as a foil, explain the Trinamul legislature brigade.
This is an argument the apparitchiks are not willing to buy. As the railways decision will affect a large number of people, dumping the issue would isolate the party even more, they argue. When the supremo returns to the city on Saturday, she is likely to face a divided party.