Ajit Singh defers RLD MPs meeting over nuclear deal

New Delhi, Jul 7 (UNI) Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) Parliamentary Party meeting which was slated for today to take stock of the political situation related to the crisis in the UPA government over the nuclear deal has been deferred.

Though RLD chief Ajit Singh had expressed himself in favour of the deal, he had said any formal decision on his party's support to the Congress-led government at the Centre would be taken at a meeting of his MPs.

The RLD has three MPs in Lok Sabha, but the situation has such developed that even small numbers would be crucial to make or marr the fate of the UPA government if a vote of confidence is moved in Parliament over the issue.

Mr Singh's office said no next date for MPs' meeting had been decided, but the party chief was in the capital and meeting party workers and people from his constituency.

The Left, which has 50 MPs, has threatened the government with withdrawal of support in case it went ahead with the safeguards agreement of the IAEA.

The BJP has also opposed to the nuclear deal in its present form and said it would renegotiate the deal if it came to power.

Though Congress has been able to muster support of the Samajawadi Party, which has 39 MPs, it will still have to get more MPs to its side to get the magic figure of 272 in a House whose effective strength is 543 at the moment.

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