Sonia Gandhi consults UPA allies on Indo-US nuclear deal

New Delhi: As Left parties continue to be unrelenting on their position on the Indo-US nuclear deal, Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Monday began consulting leaders of key UPA allies who disfavoured early polls.
Gandhi held discussions with NCP president Sharad Pawar, RJD leader Lalu Prasad and Lok Janshakti Party chief Ram Vilas Paswan in an effort to break the logjam over the issue that has created a face-off between the Congress and Left parties.
The leaders of the UPA constituents conveyed to Gandhi that they back the nuclear deal but do not favour early polls, particularly because of high inflation.
Emerging after the meeting, Prasad said the nuclear deal is good for the country as it will help meet its energy requirements.
He, however, disfavoured early elections and cited rising prices of essential commodities besides floods in North East as the reasons for this.