Dismissing speculation of the possibility of a mid-term election after the CPM’s reported warning to pull the plug from the UPA government, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Sunday said that talks were now on with IAEA for an India-specific agreement for the Indo-US civil nuclear deal.

“As long as the coalition government will be in office, such speculation for mid-term election will continue to be there. It was now fuelled by a recent statement by CPM general secretary Prakash Karat,” Mukherjee told reporters here. He was releasing two booklets edited by West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee (WBPCC) General Secretary Manas Bhunia on the Indo-US nuclear deal and Sachar Committee report.

Talks with IAEA were progressing well, Mukherjee said, adding “we will discuss it in the next meeting of the UPA-Left committee. What will be our next step will also be decided in that meeting.”