Dinesh Trivedi to resign, rollback on fare hike expected

Dinesh Trivedi, late on Wednesday night, sent his resignation letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, according to television reports. Mukul Roy, minister of state for shipping, who had earlier served in the railway ministry, is expected to take over. The government is also expected to announce a rollback on hike in rail fares.

Trinamool Congress chief Mamta Banerjee on Wednesday night had sought the removal of Railway Minister Dinesh Trivedi, hours after he proposed a hike in railway passenger fares, plunging the United Progessive Alliance government in an unusual political crisis.

The Congress core group met at the prime minister's residence late at night and weighed options to deal with the demand made by Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee to sack Railway Minister Dinesh Trivedi.