Trivedi's decision to raise fares for the first time in eight years caused disgruntlement in his own party, the Trinamool Congress, late last week after senior members said they were not consulted on the plans. The fallout following Wednesday's railway budget underscored rifts in the party that have led to policy paralysis during the tenure of current prime minister Mr Manmohan Singh.
Trivedi stepped down after being instructed to resign by party leader, and previous railway minister, Ms Mamata Banerjee who condemned the fare hike as a betrayal of the party philosophy and wrote to the prime minister asking that he sack Trivedi. Despite defying calls to step down in the days immediately after the budget, Trivedi announced his decision to quit on Sunday night. However, he remains adamant that raising fares is the right way to increase revenues by Rs 40bn ($US 816.7m) to help fund urgent investment in the network, a position supported by the Trinamool Congress' centre.
"I told my leader the day you want me to go all you do is tell me, that's what happened yesterday," Trivedi said as he thanked Ministry of Railways employees. "I've acted as a disciplined soldier. Discipline is what my parents taught me."
Singh told the Indian parliament today that he accepted Trivedi's resignation after receiving it on Sunday night. He did not say who the next railway minister will be, although CNN-IBN reported on Monday that Mr Mukul Roy, a Trinamool member of the upper house, and a candidate favoured by Banerjee, will take over the position.