No elections in 2008, says Manmohan

"At least, there will be no elections this year", Singh said in his first comments on the speculation about snap polls triggered by some of the populist provisions of 2008's Union Budget.

Asked if the Congress-led UPA at the Centre was preparing to hold polls ahead of schedule, the Prime Minister said, "elections will be held as per schedule."

To a question if 2008's budgetary proposal for farm-loan waiver was made keeping in mind the polls, Singh said, it was not a populist decision which was taken keeping in mind the plight of poor peasants.

Asked about Mayawati government's favouring creation of smaller states to be carved out of Uttar Pradesh, the Prime Minister said, the Centre would consider if a proposal to this effect comes from the state government.

Replying to a question, Singh said the responsibility to implement Central schemes in states was of governments there and it was not proper to blame the Centre for their improper operationalisation.

To a query on the implementation of various development schemes of the Central government in UP, he said, "the status is not satisfactory".

Interacting with delegations from a cross-section of people, the Prime minister said that Centre would be willing to consider a major transport project for Varanasi.

Varanasi is a major city and it deserves top class public transport and the central government will pursue any project proposed by the state government in this direction and adequate funds would be provided for this purpose, he said.

Singh said Varanasi was included in the Jawahar Lal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) under which Centre would be willing to fund a major public transport project for pilgrimage town.