Indian Left parties set to review support for government

New Delhi: The Left Front is all set to review its crucial outside support to the ruling coalition.

Incensed over the government's keenness to go ahead with contentious Indo-US nuclear deal despite its stated reservations, the Left Front has scheduled a meeting for May 23 to review its support to the government and the consequences of the withdrawal of support.

The meeting has been scheduled just five days before the 16-member UPA-Left Front panel meets to discuss fate of the India-specific safeguard agreement the government negotiated with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Burden

The Communist Party of India (CPI) has taken the lead in this direction, saying supporting the government has become a burden for them and that they are under pressure from their cadres and voters to disassociate themselves from the ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA).

While all constituents of the Left Front are unhappy with the government's attitude, there is discernible difference in their approach. Unlike other partners who feel the nuclear deal is as good as dead now since it cannot be operationalised before the Bush administration becomes a lame duck government in November this year, the CPI feels it is just dormant as both New Delhi and Washington would do everything possible to make it happen.

"We are going to explain our viewpoint to our Left Front partners at the meeting. We will try and build a consensus on this," said Atul Kumar Anjaan, secretary of the CPI.

He, however, refuted suggestions that the CPI may go in for unilateral withdrawal of support to the government if other Left parties did not agree with them. "It is the Left Front that is supporting the government and any decision would be that of the Left Front," Anjaan added.

Besides their opposition to the nuclear deal, which is seen as being due to ideological differences, the Left Front is also unhappy with the government over its failure to control steep rise in inflation.

The Left parties are worried that they may attract the wrath of the voters in next year's elections.