Tuesday, February 14 2006 17:06 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Against the backdrop of their current chill in relations, Left party leaders are keeping away from a dinner being hosted tonight by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to allied parties, ahead of the Budget Session of Parliament.

Even some of the leaders present in the capital may not attend it.

Left sources said there has been no conscious decision to keep away from the dinner and that top leaders were all out of the capital.

Only yesterday (Feb 14,2006) they have had a detailed discussion on various issues with the Prime Minister and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi at the UPA-Left Coordination Committee meeting, they added.

RSP leader Abani Roy said the dinner meeting is of 'broader UPA'. The Left parties have already expressed their views and in the UPA meeting they would discuss these.

"It is unnecessary to go there," he said.