Govt steers clear of Dwivedi's comments on 2009 polls

Government today steered clear of comments by senior Congress leader Janardan Dwivedi that the party should have sat in the Opposition after the last general elections in 2009 instead of forming the government.

"Dwivediji is a senior leader and an MP...In what context the remarks were made, under what circumstances and on what basis he made these comments. I will talk to him and get back to you in case there is an appropriate statement to be made (on the subject)," Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari said.

He was responding when asked about Dwivedi's comments yesterday that it would have been better if the party had in 2009 called it quits so that someone else could have formed the government.

Tewari was addressing a press conference along with Finance Minister P Chidambaram and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath.

"Congress could have played the role of a healthy opposition," Dwivedi had told PTI earlier.

His views assume significance at a time when the Congress is grappling with the issue of alliances and the government headed by it is facing a 10-year-old anti-incumbency and strong corruption charges.