The reforms introduced by the Prime Minister last week have provoked a political crisis with West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee yanking her party, the Trinamool Congress, from the ruling coalition. Opposition parties ranging from the Left to the right have called a strike today to demand a reversal of the diesel prices and the retail reforms - the government has indicated neither is possible.
But with Ms Banerjee parachuting out of the UPA, the government is now in a minority and dependent on regional powerhouses Mulayam Singh Yadav and Mayawati to remain in power. Both leaders do not participate in the government but provide external support. Mayawati has helped the government by deciding to skip the bandh in Uttar Pradesh - not least because the strike there has been called by her political rival, Mr Yadav, whose young son Akhilesh replaced her as chief minister earlier this year.
In a concession to the Central government, Mr Yadav is in Lucknow today, distancing himself from the Left leaders who are protesting against the UPA in Delhi. Mr Yadav's gesture indicates that he will not allow the UPA to collapse just yet, largely because he is determined not to let the main opposition BJP take centre-stage and benefit from mid-term elections.
Today's strike is being supported by bus and truck drivers across the city against the Rs. 5 or 12% hike in diesel prices.
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