Monday, February 13 2006 19:49 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Congress played down Left threats to the Government in the wake of today's coordination committee meeting but frowned upon their idea of a Third Front dismissing it with contempt asserting it has "no place in the current context."

The party also said that the next meeting of the UPA-Left coordination committee would be held around February 18.

"All such speculation about the Third Front is not based on reality. It is non-existent. It has no place in the current context," party spokesman Abhishek Singhvi told sources here, ruling out any unanimity or agreement on such a front.

Singhvi said that today's meeting of the coordination committee saw "open, frank and indepth" discussions and sought to brush aside Left criticism that their views are not taken into account by the Congress-led coalition. "Spirit of bodies like these is important.

He said it was wrong to say that the Government has not paid heed to the Left concerns and where ever it was possible it was done like the BHEL disinvestment issue.

About the Left raising a discussion on Iran in Parliament, he said "all democratic steps permissible under the Constitution, including those in Parliament are open to all, including the Left."