Sonia consults UPA allies on nuke deal

Congress president Sonia Gandhi has begun consulting leaders of key UPA allies who disfavoured early polls.

As 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 UPA allies who disfavoured early polls.

Gandhi held discussions with NCP president Sharad Pawar, RJD 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 Left parties.

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

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Emerging after the meeting, Prasad 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.

Prasad said he had told Gandhi that the nuclear deal as well as electricity is important but at the same time, 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’.

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

Pawar, who met CPI(M) leader Prakash Karat soon after meeting Gandhi, 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 Left could be ended.

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

“The government will remain and we all will remain together. 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, Prasad said the coalition had been formed to keep BJP and Sangh Parivar away from power.