Files do not move in Delhi as Didi prepares to knock-out Left from Bengal

Trinamool Chief Mamata Banerjee has tasted blood in Bengal. After battering the Left in West Bengal’s civic poll elections, the Railway Minister is preparing to deliver the knock-out punch in West Bengal, in the Assembly elections to be held next year. With eyes on Chief Minister’s seat, she has stationed herself in the State to consolidate the gains of the civic polls and get the momentum going till the elections.
Focus on Bengal has shifted the focus from Railways in Delhi so much so that the Ministry is acutely feeling the punch of Mamata’s aloofness from the Ministry. Inside sources within Railways reveal that the files are not moving at all. Transfers and postings are not taking place and even small day-to-day decisions are getting delayed. “If the Minister is not present, how can you expect others to take decisions? Neither can all the files be sent to Kolkata for her perusal,” said the source.
Due to her absence from the Ministry, several promises made during the budget still remain unmet. Not to mention the 375 stations that were to be made as Adarsh stations, even the New Delhi and Anand Vihar railway stations have not been developed as per expectations. With such a big infrastructure in place, Anand Vihar station has just a few trains moving from there. New Delhi railway station too has plethora of problems (see Life Watch, May 1-15, 2010).
Even though this issue was discussed within the Trinamool Congress, the outcome was that Mamata should retain the portfolio as there was no statutory requirement for her to stay in Delhi as railway minister. When quizzed, sources say that there may not be a statutory requirement but what about the moral requirement, with such huge amount of work pending in files lying on tables. The more hands-on minister is required at Railways immediately, feels people within the Ministry.The reshuffle in Manmohan Singh cabinet is due anytime now but is being postponed because Mamata’s final view whether she will retain the Ministry or will give it to someone else is not known yet. After all, given its emerging political status in West Bengal, the Congress is not likely to overrule her proposal.