Cannot rate performance of UPA-II govt: Karuna

Dravida Munettra Kazhagam chief M Karunanidhi on Tuesday refused to rate the three year performance of the United Progressive Alliance-II government, saying there are "ups and downs" for every government.

"Every government has its ups and downs, how can I rate them?" Karunanidhi, whose party is a key ally of the ruling UPA at the Centre, said when reporters asked him to rate the Manmohan Singh government.

Karunanidhi said he would not attend the dinner hosted by the prime minister at New Delhi on Tuesday though he has been invited for it, but gave no reason for his decision.

He parried a question on Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar as presidential candidate. Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee had said on Monday she would prefer Kumar or former President A P J Abdul Kalam or Mahatma Gandhi's grandson Gopal Gandhi for the top post.