Mukherjee: no assurance to Lagarde for IMF job
France's Finance and Economy Minister Christine Lagarde (R) chats with India's Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee while attending a governor seminar session "Asia 2050: Pursuit of growth, sustainability and well being" during the 44th annual meeting of Asian Development Bank (ADB) in Hanoi May 4, 2011. The 44th annual meeting of ADB takes place in Hanoi from May 3 to 6. REUTERS

Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Tuesday said that India is not supporting French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde's candidacy for the International Monetary Fund's top job.

However, contrary to Mukherjee's statement, Lagarde said Indian officials had given positive views for her candidacy for the IMF post in a television interview barely two hours after Mukherjee's comments.

Lagarde added that she hoped to get a view on China's position during her visit to China starting on Wednesday.

The IMF chief position fell vacant after former boss Dominique Strauss-Kahn was arrested on charges of sexually assaulting a hotel maid.

No assurance, Mukherjee replied, on being asked whether he had given any assurance to Lagarde for the top job at the IMF, Reuters reported.

The Indian finance minister repeated India's position saying the candidate chosen for the top job at the IMF should be on merit.

I don't think I will betray their confidence in saying that they (Indian leaders) expressed positive views about my skills and credentials, Lagarde told CNBC -TV18.

With no unity in the ranks of the emerging economies and the BRICS countries, the only stumbling block for Lagarde could be an order which may open her up to an enquiry into her role in a 2008 legal settlement.

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