Outside support in nation's interest: Sonia

      Baduria (West Bengal): Refuting that the outside support of the Left parties to the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) was to remain in power, Congress President Sonia Gandhi said on Thursday that it was in the interest of the nation. Addressing an election rally in North 24-Parganas district, Sonia said: "It is true that the Congress-led UPA Government is taking help from Left parties, but it is not being done to retain the chair. It is being done in the interest of the nation". "It is being done on the basis of the CMP," Sonia added. The UPA chairperson's statement comes after a day when Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had said that the Left parties are the "valued allies" of UPA. Terming the CMP to be in interest of all sections of society Sonia emphasised that the CMP is important for improving the condition of poor, dalits and women. Lauding UPA's contribution, Sonia said that her party was committed to nation-building, adding that "in the UPA regime all demands of the West Bengal Government have been met in the various areas which include education, power, village and urban development. Union Defence Minister and West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee chief Pranab Mukherjee and other party functionaries were also present and addressed the election rally. The first phase of polling for the West Bengal Assembly was held on April 17. The polls for the remaining four phases will be held on April 22, 27, May 3 and 8 respectively.

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