Left to decide on modalities of withdrawing support from UPA
4 Jul 2008, 1106 Hrs

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New Delhi, July 4 (ANI): The Left parties will meet here today to decide on the modalities of withdrawing support from the UPA government even as the Third Front i.e. UNPA, led by the Samajwadi Party asserted its unity yesterday after a crucial meeting.

Though the UNPA said that it was yet to decide whether to give support to the UPA or not, in political circles it is assumed that the SP leaders Mulayam Singh Yadav and Amar Singh would succeed in persuading other UNPA constituents, including the INLD, TDP, etc. in extending their support to the Congress-led UPA.

Ahead of today's meeting, the CPI leaders said that the Left parties would decide the modalities for further course of action on the issue of withdrawing support to the government.

Meanwhile, the UNPA leaders wanted a national debate on the nuclear issue. INLD chief Om Prakash Chautala yesterday said: "On Indo-US civil nuclear deal many things have been said but our stand from day one has been same. For us, it's a matter of national concern, but Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh said that it's a matter of the cabinet. But people of the country are suspicious about the deal, as they fear it might compel them to live under the US domination. The government should explain the deal to the people. It should be made a matter of national debate." If the Left parties withdraw their support, the government needs the support of the SP to avoid losing a vote of confidence in parliament and facing an early election.

Fearing that early elections could pave the way for the BJP to come to power, the SP has hinted it is willing to negotiate with the Congress-led government.

The Indo-US nuclear deal, which gives India access to US nuclear fuel and technology, is potentially worth billions of dollars to U.S. and European nuclear supplier companies and would give India more energy alternatives to drive a booming, trillion-dollar economy. (ANI)