Pranab evasive about alliance with Jaya for TN polls

Earlier in the morning, Pranab Mukherjee had to answer some irksome questions at the state Congress headquarters from reporters. He agreed that the question of Jayalalitha contesting the election was debatable. A candidate could be debarred from contesting elections only after he or she was finally convicted and the entire judicial process was over.

But it was for Jayalalitha to decide whether to contest or not in the election, and the Congress was not concerned with individual contests. About aligning with “tainted” leaders, he was rather philosophical. “In certain situations, we have to live with it,” he said.

After the meeting with Jaya, he was asked what were the issues they broadly discussed. Pranab Mukherjee replied, “Broad or narrow, I cannot say anything now.”

Later at his hotel, he told reporters Congress was not looking at the whole exercise in terms of seat-sharing alone. But he refused to say anything about a common minimum programme or an agenda for governance for the alliance.

Asked if he would demand power-sharing as done by the Tamil Maanila Congress, Mukherjee replied he was evasive by saying, “I am not saying that.” But stressed that the aim was to defeat the DMK-BJP combine in Tamil Nadu.

Outside Jayalalitha’s residence, a reporter asked, “When would you come again for discussions?” He replied, “You will know when I come again,” and drove off in his car.