JD-U not gravitating towards Cong, UPA: Sharad Yadav

"That is absurd. It has no meaning," he said when asked about perceptions of his party cosying up to Congress.

The JD-U chief parried questions about the projection of Narendra Modi in BJP. "First, BJP will decide on it within its party. It will come to NDA only then," was his brief response when asked what will JD-U do if Modi is projected as Prime Ministerial face of BJP.

As NDA and Left battle the perception of rift on the Presidential poll issue, Yadav, "None of three alliances--UPA, NDA or Left--are divided. That was the biggest message yesterday when Mukherjee filed nomination, nobody from JD-U, Shiv Sena, CPI-M or Forward Bloc went there.

"This shows there is no rift in either NDA or Left. Even UPA will remain united as its ally Mamata Banerjee appears to have no choice other than backing Mukherjee's candidature or abstaining from voting. Presidential election has not caused divide in any of the three alliances," he said.

He said that JD-U supported Mukherjee only because the veteran leader knows the country and only such a person should occupy the high office and not one, who is dependent on advisors for all decision.

"That does not mean our opposition to Congress-led UPA has lessened. Also, we do not support the economic policies of UPA to which Mukherjee was an integral part. UPA's economic policies have ruined the country," Yadav, who is also the NDA Convener, said.

Sources said that CPI-M general secretary Prakash Karat had talked to Yadav as UPA leaders were keen that they attend the nomination filing event of Mukherjee.

However, the two leaders took a "tactical decision" not to be there to discourage the perception of any divide in their respective alliances.