End of the line for Dinesh Trivedi after Budget?

Railway Minister Dinesh Trivedi’s relief at retaining the post of Railway Minister may be short-lived. Reports suggest that he is to lose his job soon after Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee delivers the budget today. Amidst reports that Trivedi had resigned yesterday, Mukherjee clarified that the railway minister had not resigned yet. The prime minister had received a communication from Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee which was still under consideration, Mukherjee told the Lok Sabha. [caption id=“attachment_246131” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“Trivedi may resign soon after the union budget and will be replaced by TMC stalwart Mukul Roy. PTI”]  [/caption] However, Trivedi may not last too long after the union budget is presented by  Mukherjee. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is likely to appoint Banerjee’s nominee to the post, Mukul Roy, shortly after the budget is presented, The Economic Times reported. “He (Trivedi) will put in his papers any time after the presentation of the budget on Friday afternoon,” the paper quoted an anonymous government leader as saying. The finance minister had reportedly spoken with TMC chief Banerjee to retain Trivedi until the budget is presented in Parliament. Trivedi had invited Banerjee’s ire after he hiked passenger fares on all classes. Trivedi had said yesterday that he had not received any instructions from either the prime minister or Banerjee yet.