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PM parries questions on taking Left support

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Press Trust of India Guwahati

On a day when his allies reached out to the Left parties for a post-poll tie-up, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today parried a question on whether he would take their support for a possible government formation.

"I would not like to comment," the Prime Minister told reporters when asked whether he would take the Left's support again to form the next government. 

Singh, who was speaking after casting his vote at a polling station in Dispur, expressed confidence that the Congress will form the next government at the Centre.

"Congress will win with a thumping majority. There will be a Congress-led government at the Centre. I am also confident Congress will be victorious in Assam," Singh said. 

Asked whether the Congress was on a sticky wicket this time, he said, "No, no, I am not tense at all".

 

Earlier in the day, key UPA leaders Sharad Pawar, Lalu Prasad and Ramvilas Paswan sought to reach out to Left parties describing them as "our friends" whose "blessings" could be required in the post-poll scenario.

Singh stood with his wife, Gursharan Kaur, in a queue to cast his ballot.  After casting her vote, Gursharan Kaur said, "I am feeling great".  Singh was the 258th person to vote and his wife 259th in the polling station set up for 1138 voters.

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First Published: Apr 23 2009 | 3:01 PM IST

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