The Hindu Business Line : Left with few options?

People reading the straws in the wind can make out that the Congress party seems to have overcome coalition jitters and is holding on more firmly to its stand than before. Media persons looking for the inside story of the Left-UPA Co-ordination Committee meeting on Wednesday found the Left leaders a trifle miffed after the meeting.

One usually polite Left representative even snapped at a correspondent when queried in detail about what happened inside Panchavati — the large meeting room constructed within the premises of the Prime Minister's residence — and it became clear that the Congress leadership did not yield much during the long interaction.

Confirmation came soon from one of the smaller Left party leaders who told correspondents that the Government had practically turned down all the points raised by them in an exhaustive note presented earlier.

"They are not willing to listen to our point of view,'' he said. With half its term over, it looks like the Government has come to the conclusion that the Left parties have very few options other than supporting the Congress even if a mid-term poll is held.

Our Bureau