I will support Arvind Kejriwal if he contests elections: Anna Hazare

NEW DELHI: Anna Hazare today downplayed differences with Arvind Kejriwal saying he will support him if he contests elections and denied he mooted the idea of the forming a political party.

Hazare, who concluded the first round of consultations on the course of his apolitical anti-grant movement, also met Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia, 12 days after they formally split on the issue of the movement taking a political plunge.

The meeting came a day before Kejriwal is set to announce his formal entry into politics with the announcement of the formation of political party.

Hazare and Kejriwal downplayed differences with both saying there were no rift between them and that they will help each other.

"I never said Arvind is bad. If he fights, I will support Arvind if he contests. So far, I have not come across any shortcomings in him. He is working for the society. But at the same time, I am not going to support all candidates put up by Arvind. How do I know whom Arvind will select.

"That MP from Chandni Chowk, Kapil Sibal. If he contests against him, I will certainly campaign for him...Sibal was against Lokpal Bill. He was against our participation in Joint Committee," Hazare told a press conference after his meetings.

Kejriwal said they came to meet him as Hazare is in Delhi. "We have a relationship. There is no fight between us. He himself has said the goal is same though the paths are different. We told him that whenever needed, we are there to help you. He told us media is creating an impression that there is a fight," he said.

However, Hazare differed with Kejriwal's assertion that he will return to them if they work honestly and the claim that he was the first too moot the idea of forming a party.