Crisis in Delhi after Left ends support

New Delhi: The Communist parties that have provided the Indian government with a parliamentary majority for four years on Tuesday said they were withdrawing support in protest against a civilian nuclear deal with the United States.

The parties, which say the deal makes India subservient to Washington, will call for a vote of no confidence in the government. The government believes it will survive the vote, having secured support from the regional Samajwadi Party.

Months of high-voltage drama ended at the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPM) headquarters yesterday when its general secretary Prakash Karat said the time had come to end their backing.

The announcement came after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's decision to approach the IAEA "very soon" to take the deal forward.

Political analysts said the decision of the 61 Left MPs would bring down the multi-party United Progressive Alliance's strength in the 545-seat Lok Sabha to 226.

This would go up to 265 with the support of the Samajwadi Party's 39 MPs, but leave it still seven short of simple majority.