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Left won't leave Govt in red: Pranab
Published on Sun, Jun 10, 2007 at 09:04, Updated on Sun, Jun 10, 2007 at 09:10 in section
Tags: Devils Advocate, Karan Thapar
The Congress has been increasingly under fire from the Left. But External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee believes the red brigade will continue to support the Government till the end of its term.
Pranab Mukherjee: I'm not worried about this. Various political parties make assessments of the current situation and sometimes they criticise the economic policies, sometimes they criticise the failure of the government to contain communal forces. That is the reason why they are upset with the government. I'm just saying that it is their assessment but as long as they will continue to support the government the government will go on.
Karan Thapar: The question is: how long?
Pranab Mukherjee: Till the end of the term of this government.
Karan Thapar: On what basis can you sound so confident?
Pranab Mukherjee: Because I am dealing with them everyday. That's why I'm confident.
In the candid conversation, Mukherjee also appeared confident of UPA's candidate emerging the winner.
Karan Thapar: How confident are you that the UPA President whoever he or she might be can win if the opponent is Shekhawat?
Pranab Mukherjee: Arithmetic is clearly in favour of UPA and it's supporters.
Karan Thapar: So UPA will win?
Pranab Mukherjee: Of course.
Karan Thapar: What about Mr Shekhawat's capacity to win support from all different parties, which he showed as Vice President - he could eat into your support.
Pranab Mukherjee: Taste of pudding is in the eating. We are going to face the elections if he wants to contest. And if he contests the results will be known.
Karan Thapar: Has Mayawati assured the UPA that she will support your candidate, or does it depend on who the candidate is?
Pranab Mukherjee: I am not disclosing these things before the election thing is over.
Karan Thapar: I promised you at the beginning of the interview that I wouldn't bring up the question of your candidature, I am not going to break that promise, but since all the papers say that are vital to this government, and that without you this government would not be able to survive, don't you think that it is fitting and fair that you be made Deputy PM?
Pranab Mukherjee: These all things are totally irrelevant because who will be made Deputy PM or who will be made ministers of which ministry totally depends on the political establishment that runs the Government - that is the PM, and the president of the ruling party. NO individual other than these two are concerned here.
Watch the complete interview with Pranab Mukherjee on Devil’s Advocate, Sunday 2030 hrs IST. The transcript will be available on IBNLive.com
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