Nitish foresees mid-term poll over UPA-Left deadlock on Nuke deal

Patna, Aug 20 (UNI) Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today claimed mid-term polls were around the corner following serious differences between UPA and Left parties over the Indo-US nuclear deal.

Mr Kumar told newspersons here that the differences between UPA and Left on the nuclear deal have raised several issues which need to be addressed properly as there seems to be some grey areas about the nuclear agreement.

''The UPA government's assurance was not enough to make the people feel assured,'' he added.

''Ambiguous points on the nuclear deal, the internal laws of US and its verbal assurance were at variance with each other pushing the entire scenario into utter confusion'', he claimed.

''Left is adamant on stalling the related bill in Lok Sabha, while the UPA government has ruled out any reconsideration of the deal which has created an unprecedented situation during the regime of Manmohan Singh government,'' he said adding the country would face midterm polls if the Left parties and UPA stick to their position.

''Apart from price rise and plight of farmers, the Indo-US nuclear deal would be among the important issues in mid-term poll if the left parties finally decides to withdraw support from the UPA government'', Mr Kumar said in reply to a question.

He contended that the people would lose faith in the UPA government even if the Left does not withdraw the support from the Manmohan Singh government.

Mr Kumar, however, maintained that besides Left parties, the third front and NDA had also expressed their reservations over the nuclear deal and the UPA government should reconsider its decision on nuclear agreement as it would affect the sovereignty of the nation.

UNI