UPA may fall by Oct 14: Sharad Yadav

New Delhi, Oct 7: President of the Janata Dal (United) party, Sharad Yadav today said that the Congress-led UPA government is likely to fall by next Sunday, since the Centre's representatives are likely to meet the officials of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on October 14 to discuss the India-specific agreement with the international body to operationalise the Indo-US nuclear deal.

Yadav made these remarks at the conclusion of his party's two-day National Executive meet in the national capital.

Earlier, during the 51st General Conference of the IAEA held last month in Vienna, chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission Anil Kakodkar was to discuss India-specific safeguards with IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei, but could not hold any formal talks due to strict opposition from the Left parties.

"Sooner this government goes, better it would be for the countrymen", as it was encouraging anti-poor policies like SEZ and retail trade, which were only for the betterment of the big industrialists and capitalists, Yadav said.

"Believe me, both this nuclear deal and the UPA Government will go very soon. Chances of mid-term polls are looming large, and we are well prepared to face the polls. In my evaluation, regional parties are set to benefit and overall the situation would be hung parliament. Both the big parties - the Congress and the BJP - are set to lose," he added.

Yadav's statement assumes significance in the wake of continuous attacks from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi over the past few days on the Left. Today, while addressing a massive rally in Haryana's Jhajjar, Sonia indirectly said that the Left Parties were acting like stumbling blocks in the path of national development.

On Saturday, both Manmohan and Sonia had said at an Iftar Party hosted by the former that they were not afraid of facing mid-term polls.

Yadav today said that the Leftists were right in opposing the nuclear deal, as "the deal is not at all necessary since we have enough energy resources".

Meanwhile, reacting to Sonia's statement in Jhajjar, an irked CPI leader AB Bardhan said that voters would give a befitting reply to the Congress in the next polls.

ElBaradei is arriving in New Delhi on Monday for a three-day visit, during which he is scheduled to hold parleys with the Prime Minister, senior political leaders and top officials of country's nuclear establishment.

ElBaradei's visit assumes significance as it comes at a time when the UPA-Left committee will be in the midst of discussing contentious issues on the Indo-US nuclear deal.

On October 9, ElBaradei is slated to spend time with the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) officials, and would meet the Prime Minister and political leaders in New Delhi on October 10, said DAE sources.

Besides, he is also likely to visit the Tarapur atomic power plant on October 10.

ANI>