UPA should not blow its own trumpet: Bardhan

DINNER DOUBTFULS: Mayawati will not to attend the dinner as the Centre has not released funds for UP.

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New Delhi: The UPA is celebrating four years in power on Thursday with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh hosting a dinner for all the Centre's allies.

The Left parties are likely to attend the dinner, but will not endorse the UPA's four-year report card. They say there is not much to celebrate as rising prices is a concern and they are protesting.

CPI General Secretary, A B Bardhan says, "Seeing the misery of the people and rising prices, the UPA should not celebrate. It is blowing its own trumpet."

Meanwhile, the BSP too has decided not to attend the function. Their reason for skipping the dinner is the Centre not releasing funds for Uttar Pradesh, despite Mayawati's repeated demands.

In fact, Mayawati did not attend the Prime Minister's recent conference for Chief Ministers on similar grounds.

The Samajwadi Party though is attending, with party leader Amar Singh's presence likely to signal a thaw in SP-Congress relations.

Amar Singh told CNN-IBN, "I have never had problems with Sonia Gandhi. The future of Congress-SP relationship depends on mutual give and take."

He also said that it was ironical the same Congress had dubbed him a gate-crasher four years ago, and now they were inviting him to dinner.

However, he reiterated that Samajwadi Party and UNPA's identities will not be compromised.

Left to Finalise Strategy Against UPA Policies

Left parties will meet in the Capital on Friday to assess the performance of the UPA on the basis of the Common Minimum Programme and finalise a strategy to take on the wrong policies of the Government.

Among other things, the Indo-US Nuclear Deal will also be discussed, chiefly the Government's latest note explaining the provisions of the India-specific safeguards agreement with IAEA.

And though the Left parties are unwilling to change their stand over the nuke deal, Bardhan ruled out the possibility of moving a no-confidence motion against the Government.

He said that the Government was too close to a General Election and that moving a no-confidence motion at this time was not a great idea.