Increase coordination with UPA partners, Mamata tells Congress

Kolkata, July 17 (IANS) Asking the Congress to pace up the coordination and consultations with its UPA allies on policy matters, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Tuesday said her opposition to various "anti-people policies" were driven by her commitment towards the masses.

"We are with the Congress because of our commitment to the masses. That's the reason we have opposed various anti-people policies such as the petrol price hike, FDI in retail and other policies. The centre should take a decision after consultations and proper coordination. This coordination is not there at the centre," Banerjee told reporters here.

Banerjee, whose Trinamool Congress is the second-largest constituent in the United Progressive Alliance (UPA), has been at loggerheads with Congress after her party opposed various policies ranging from Teesta water sharing dispute, FDI in retail and Lokayuktas.

The latest flashpoint was Banerjee's initial rejection of Mukherjee as the presidential candidate, though she made a volte face Tuesday and extended support to him.