The regional party of Mamata Banerjee, the maverick leader of West Bengal who has threatened to pull out of the governing coalition, raised even more pressure on the national government by demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday.
The latest standoff with Ms. Banerjee, who opposes the government's move to raise fuel prices and allow more foreign investment, has prompted the Indian National Congress Party, which leads the coalition, to try to line up support from other parties so that the government will not collapse, according to local news reports.
Here are some of the responses to the political crisis:
Mulayam Singh Yadav, Samajwadi Party chief: “The go vernment should get wise - what have they given to people of the country? We will discuss our strategy in the parliamentary board meeting. The government's stubborn behavior will do it no good,†Mr. Yadav said on CNN-IBN, a news channel.
Derek O'Brien, All India Trinamool Congress spokesman and member of Parliament: After Ms. Banerjee, who leads the All India Trinamool Congress, issued her threat to withdraw from the governing coalition by Friday, Mr. O'Brien posted on Twitter: “What is it some you of you folk here were saying about only bark, no bite?â€
Ravi Shankar Prasad, Bharatiya Janata Party's general secretary: “Because of the withdrawal of support by Mamamtaji's party, namely Trinamool Congress, a serious question mark is there on the stability of this government. The B.J.P. will take a call as to whether there is a need for a special session of the Parliament, â€Mr. Prasad told Times Now, a television channel.
Tariq Anwar, Nationalist Congress Party leader: “This is unfortunate - she should not have taken this step. This will help B.J.P. and communal forces. We hope by Friday she realizes this and takes back her decision. Supporting parties are with the government because we know that withdrawing support will not help them; it will help communal forces. Diesel price was hiked to control the fiscal deficit. The N.C.P. is supporting F.D.I.; it will help farmers,†Mr. Anwar told CNN-IBN.
