Cong-AIADMK talks fail

CHENNAI, JUNE 26: With a typical Manmohanesque air of resignation, Congress leader Manmohan Singh emerged out of the Poes Garden residence of AIADMK chief J Jayalalitha this evening after hour-long parleys to work out a seat-sharing arrangement with the ADMK All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam for the coming Lok Sabha polls. But the former finance minister8217;s dead-pan face and his observations sent out perceptible signals: the seat-sharing talks between the Congress and the ADMK have run into rough weather.

8220;It has not been settled,8221; he replied to a pointed query on whether the electoral arrangement with the ADMK had been finalised. On the seat-sharing talks with the ADMK supremo, he merely said: 8220;I have to report back to Sonia Gandhi8221;.

Will there be another round of talks? 8220;I have to first report back to her8221;. On whether he was satisfied with the talks, he philosophically remarked: 8220;There is nothing like satisfaction in politics8221;.