Sonia, Manmohan ready to face mid-term polls

New Delhi: UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi today expressed the Congress' readiness to face elections while Prime Minister Manmohan Singh sought to play down speculation that the country was headed for mid-term polls.

"Not at all. If there are elections you face it," Gandhi told journalists when asked whether she was concerned about the prospects of mid-term elections.

Sonia faced a volley of questions from reporters at an 'Iftar' party hosted by the Prime Minister, but politely declined to respond. "This is PM's Iftar party. I will speak to you on some other occasion," was her cryptic reply.

The Prime Minister was asked whether he felt snap polls are inevitable. "Nothing is inevitable," he responded. To a question whether the Left parties would pull the rug, Singh remarked, "I am not an astrologer."

Vice President Hamid Ansari, several Cabinet ministers, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, Jammu and Kashmir CM Ghulam Nabi Azad, top AICC functionaries and diplomats were present at the Iftar hosted by Singh at his 7, Race Course residence.

Asked whether coalition politics is working, he said, "We have to make it work."

Speculation has been rife about the possibility of mid-term polls with the Left strongly opposing the Indo-US nuclear deal and the government showing keenness to go ahead with it.

The Left parties have virtually threatened a review of their support if the Government operationalises the deal.

On discussions with the Left allies on the nuclear deal, the Prime Minister said, "as long as there is dialogue, there is always hope. We hope for the best."

He steered clear of the political developments in Karnataka, saying, "I just watch it on TV."

CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury, when asked whether elections will take place, "I don't know. Ask the government". To a query on whether the talks on the nuclear issue were on the right track and whether the Left was "convinced", he said, "very substantial notes have been exchanged."

Besides, he said the issue has several nuances and they have to be properly evaluated.

Yechury said adding that three meetings have taken place and two more were scheduled on October nine and 14. To a question on how the Left would differentiate between formal and informal talks on the nuclear issue, he said the Atomic Energy Commission Chairman Anil Kakodkar has himself said no official talks have taken place.