UNPA joins cause with Left over nuke pact

New Delhi, Oct 23 (UNI) The United National Progressive Alliance tonight decided to throw its weight behind the Left parties in the Communists' grouse against the UPA government over the Indo-US nuclear deal.

In a meeting held at the residence of former Haryana Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala, UNPA leaders elected Samajwadi Party chief Mulayum Singh Yadav as Chairman and Telugu Desam Party supremo Chandrababu Naidu as Convenor of the alliance.

With clouds of mid-term elections gathering thick, they also decided to hold Kisan rallies across the country, beginning with a national level rally at Hyderabad on November 24.

Earlier in the day, SP leader Amar Singh met CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat and extended his party's support to the Left against the nuclear accord.

Only four of the eight parties, which earlier floated the UNPA, attended tonight's meeting.

UNI