Congress is ready for mid-term Lok Sabha elections: Alva

Vadodara, Dec 10 (UNI) All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary Margaret Alva today said her party was ready to face mid-term Lok Sabha elections, if the Left Front withdraws its support to the UPA government at the Centre on the Indo-US nuclear deal.

Reacting to CPM general secretary Prakash Karat's ultimatum to the UPA government on the controversial deal, the Congress leader said ''If mid-term polls are thrust on us, we are prepared for it.'' Taking exception to Mr Karat's threat that the Centre must stop operationalisation of the nuclear deal, she said ''We can't stop anybody from taking his own decision. In case, the Left withdraws its support, mid-term elections in the country could be held along with forthcoming Assembly elections in Karnataka and three other North-eastern states.'' Ms Alva said Mr Karat was used to giving such threats. But the issue could be resolved amicably through negotiations.

It may be recalled here that Mr Karat had recently warned the UPA government to bring an end to the nuclear deal talks with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) by the end of December, or face mid-term elections.

Strongly advocating in favour of the nuclear deal, the Congress general secretary, who was talking to the media on the eve of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's proposed visit to Vadodara and Ahmedabad cities tomorrow for election campaigning, said the deal was in the interest of the nation as it would help increase its nuclear energy potential.

She also rejected the Left's apprehension that it would make India a subordinate ally of the US.

UNI