Times of India
 
NEW DELHI, Jun 30: A crucial week lies ahead for the UPA government, as the standoff between the Congress and Left intensified over the Indo-US nuclear deal. With the Left on Sunday threatening to withdraw its support from the government, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh may find it tough to go ahead with a deal that he sees as one of his most important diplomatic achievements. With time running out for the deal to be approved before US President George W Bush leaves office, there are increasing signs that the Congress wants to go ahead with the deal even if it leads to the collapse of the UPA coalition and early elections.

CPM, on Sunday, gave one of its clearest warnings regarding the nuclear deal. "In case the government decides to go ahead with such a harmful agreement," Prakash Karat, CPM general secretary said, "the CPM will withdraw support to the UPA government in concert with the Left parties." That scenario could lead to months of political uncertainty and elections, jeopardising the chances of decisive government measures to deal with record inflation, rising rates and signs of a slowing economy.

Several meetings are scheduled this week for the Congress and the coalition allies. The PM reportedly insisted the government make a final decision before he heads for a G-8 summit in Japan on July 7. Congress chief Sonia Gandhi called over the weekend for party workers to prepare for elections. While elections are due by May 2009, the timing of her statement was seen as the clearest indication yet of preparing for a snap poll. "The party has to get ready for polls and everybody has been asked to draw up programmes," senior Congress party official Janardan Dwivedi told reporters at the weekend.

If the Left withdraws support, the ruling coalition will likely face a vote of confidence in parliament. If it fails to find another party, it could lose the vote and face general elections this year.