A key ally of India's ruling coalition has withdrawn its support from the government to protest recent economic reforms.
Trinamool Congress party leader Mamata Banerjee said in Kolkata Tuesday that ministers from her party will resign from India's Cabinet on Friday.
The reforms unveiled by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh last week include opening the country's huge retail sector to foreign companies, allowing foreign capital in airlines and raising the price of diesel fuel.
The Trinamool Congress party is strongly against allowing foreign investment in the retail sector.
Prime Minister Singh's administration relies on Trinamool for its strength in Parliament and will now have to find other ally support to pass measure.
Opposition parties also sharply criticized the reforms, which were announced last week. The Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party and other regional parties have planned a nationwide strike and protests on Thursday.