Chennai:
With just one phase in these elections remaining, the focus of all the major political formations has shifted to the process of cobbling together post-poll allies.
On Saturday, Manmohan Singh was giving bedside assurance that the Congress will not dump the DMK for the AIADMK after the polls was necessitated by what was seen as overtures by Congress leaders like Rahul Gandhi to Jayalalithaa.
At a press conference in Chennai before his hospital visit to see the DMK chief M Karunanidhi, the Prime Minister tried to reach out to his only Tamil Nadu ally.
When asked if he is categorically ruling out any alliance with the AIADMK after the polls, Singh said, "As of now, we are fighting this election in the company of the DMK. It is our fervent hope that this alliance which has stood the test of time for the last five years and has delivered solid results, we will maintain this alliance as we form the government."
While reiterating the Centre's concern for Tamil civilians in Sri Lanka, Singh chose to side step a reference to Karunanidhi's recent pro-LTTE comments.
"I may not agree with them but it is a free country, a democracy and everyone has a right to express their views," he said.
But many believe that the Prime Minister is hedging his bets because he has refused to rule out a post-poll pact with the AIADMK.