Reported By Monideepa Banerjie Written By Mala Das

In a veritable tit-for-tat, the Congress is all set to pull out its six ministers from the West Bengal government today, in response to the withdrawal of support and ministers by the Trinamool Congress - its senior partner in the state - from the government at the Centre.

Often accused of being intolerant, the Mamata Banerjee-led government in West Bengal is in the thick of a controversy yet again, this time for targeting a book written by an IPS officer that carries a veiled criticism of the present dispensation.

The relationship between the Congress and the Trinamool, which is teetering dangerously on the verge of a break-up, continues to worsen further. Firhad Hakim, a senior minister in the West Bengal government belonging to the Trinamool Congress, today said that the "Congress is free to leave the government if they want."

After a waiting game that lasted for five days, Dinesh Trivedi finally resigned as the Railways Minister on Sunday. Mr Trivedi, who is in the eye of a raging storm after he announced a hike in passenger fares in his maiden Railway Budget on Wednesday, spoke to Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee before he quit.

In the midst of all the noise that she has made over demanding the removal of party man Dinesh Trivedi as Railways Minister over the hike in passenger fares, it has now emerged that Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee was reportedly aware of the proposed increase in rates before the Railways Budget.

In a veritable tit-for-tat, the Congress is all set to pull out its six ministers from the West Bengal government today, in response to the withdrawal of support and ministers by the Trinamool Congress - its senior partner in the state - from the government at the Centre.

Often accused of being intolerant, the Mamata Banerjee-led government in West Bengal is in the thick of a controversy yet again, this time for targeting a book written by an IPS officer that carries a veiled criticism of the present dispensation.

The relationship between the Congress and the Trinamool, which is teetering dangerously on the verge of a break-up, continues to worsen further. Firhad Hakim, a senior minister in the West Bengal government belonging to the Trinamool Congress, today said that the "Congress is free to leave the government if they want."

After a waiting game that lasted for five days, Dinesh Trivedi finally resigned as the Railways Minister on Sunday. Mr Trivedi, who is in the eye of a raging storm after he announced a hike in passenger fares in his maiden Railway Budget on Wednesday, spoke to Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee before he quit.

In the midst of all the noise that she has made over demanding the removal of party man Dinesh Trivedi as Railways Minister over the hike in passenger fares, it has now emerged that Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee was reportedly aware of the proposed increase in rates before the Railways Budget.