Cong avoids passing value judgement on 100-day SP rule in UP

"We are not in the business of marking numbers. The Samajwadi Party has got the mandate of people in Uttar Pradesh. We are keeping a watch on the situation," party spokesman Manish Tewari told reporters.

He was asked as to what has been the Congress assessment of the Yadav government which completed 100 days in office today.

Tewari's cautious attitude indicated that the leadership has given signals that it does not want any problems with allies over statements by party leaders.

This was because only yesterday Congress leader Rashid Alvi had sparked off a controversy by dubbing Mulayam Singh Yadav as the "biggest agent" of BJP, attracting instant disapproval from the AICC.

Tewari's cautious tone was reflectd on questions concerning the Trinamool Congress too. Asked whether Mamata Banerjee's party will remain an ally of the UPA even if the party votes against Mukherjee in the Presidential poll, he said, "spokespersons are trained not to answer questions that begin with an 'if'."