Reservation issue can be discussed after polls: Tharoor

Issues such as reservations on economic basis, as raised by members of the Congress' student wing, can be considered only after the Lok Sabha elections, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor said Thursday.

Tharoor, who is minister of state for human resource development, said that such issues could not be opened in the heat and dust of elections and the existing pattern of reservation will continue.

"We are embarking on election campaign. I think if these are important issues in the minds of young people of our country, there is legitimate ground for discussing this after the elections inside the party forums," he said.

Tharoor said if the issue is to been reopened, the time will come after the elections for calm reflection within each party.

"If our students in our party want to raise it, they have every right to do, we will discuss honestly but right now the existing policy of the party is in favour of the existing system of reservation and we are not reopening this issue during this election," he said.

Congress sources said that issue had been raised by some members of National Students Union of India, the student wing of the party.