'Left role constructive'

The Congress today said the Left were playing "a very constructive" role in helping the UPA government understand issues at the grassroot level.

Responding to questions on the Left parties' refusal to attend today's function to celebrate the one-year UPA rule at the Centre, Congress leader and minister of state in the prime minister's office, Prithviraj Chauhan said, "We must appreciate the role of the Left. They are playing the role of a very constructive supporting party".

"I don't think the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund have all the solutions. I think the grassroot realities are different and the Left are helping us to come to grips with the grassroot realities," he said.

"We must realise that the people of the country have voted the maximum number of Left members in this Parliament. The NDA's entire campaign was a pro-elite," he added.