Trinamool Congress, TMC today formally withdrew support to the UPA government. Its six Ministers also submitted their resignation in protest against FDI in retail.

The TMC which has 19 members in the Lok Sabha, handed over a letter withdrawing support to the government to President Pranab Mukherjee.

Earlier, six Trinamool Congress Ministers submitted their resignations to Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh who expressed sadness over their decision. The Ministers who went to the Prime Minister's residence to submit their resignations were Mukul Roy, Sudip Bandhyopadhay, Sultan Ahmed , Sougata Roy, Sisir Adhikary and C M Jatua.

Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday had announced her decision to withdraw support to the UPA protesting the Centre's decisions to hike diesel prices, withdraw subsidy on cooking gas and allow FDI in multi-brand retail.

Earlier, Parliamentry Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal today said, the UPA government has the required numbers and is not under any threat of loosing majority. Speaking to a Private Channel, Mr. Bansal said, the Constitutional requirment is 272 in the Lok Sabha and the UPA enjoys the overwhelming support of 310 MPs.

Meanwhile, the Samajwadi Party today pledged to continue support to the UPA government as it does not want to let communal forces come to power at Centre. Party Supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav told reporters in New Delhi, although his Samajwadi Party is not in the UPA, it will continue support to the Alliance, so that communal forces do not go ahead.