Sonia consults UPA allies on N-deal

As the Left parties continue to be unrelenting on their position on the Indo-US nuclear deal, Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Monday began consulting leaders of key United Progressive Alliance allies who disfavoured early polls.

Sonia held discussions with Nationalist Congress Party president Sharad Pawar, Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Lalu Prasad and Lok Janshakti Party chief Ram Vilas Paswan in an effort to break the logjam over the issue that has created a face-off between the Congress and the Left parties.

The leaders of the UPA constituents conveyed to Sonia that they back the nuclear deal, but do not favour early polls, particularly because of high inflation.

Emerging after the meeting, Lalu said the nuclear deal is good for the country as it will help meet its energy requirements.

He, however, disfavoured early elections and cited rising prices of essential commodities besides floods in north-east as the reasons for this.

Lalu said he had told Sonia that the nuclear deal as well as electricity is important but at the same time, the government is also necessary.

"This is not the time for polls... This is the time to deal with issues like inflation," he told reporters, adding discussions will have to be conducted keeping in mind the "interest of the nation".

He said the government needs to explain to the Left parties that the nuclear deal is in the national interest and also listen to their views.

Pawar, who met Communist Party of India-Marxist leader Prakash Karat soon after meeting Sonia, expressed confidence that the matter will be resolved through talks.

"I am confident that through dialogue some way out will be found," the NCP leader said.

Paswan emphasised that the government was in no danger and suggested that the stand-off between the Congress and the Left could be ended.

"The government is not falling, this much I can tell you," the LJP chief told reporters after meeting Sonia.

"The government will remain and we all will remain together. The Left parties will also be with us," Paswan said, adding, "there is no issue in the world that cannot be resolved through talks."

Emphasising on the need for keeping the UPA together, Lalu said the coalition had been formed to keep the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Sangh Parivar away from power.