“We will like a discussion in Parliament. Since the winter session is going to be held this month, we are not pressing for a discussion under a rule that entails voting. The views of Parliament must be elicited,” CPM general secretary Prakash Karat told newsmen here at the party headquaters.

Mr Karat’s observation comes close on the heels of his apparently conciliatory remark that he appreciated Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s “unquestioned integrity” over the pact. Parliament begins its winter session from November 15 next.

The 15 member UPA-Left committee formed to arrive at a conclusion on the pact, will meet on November 16, Mr Karat said. “We are in the committee and our effort is to solve the matter,” he added.

‘Wait till Nov 16’
Asked about media reports that despite the Left opposition to the deal, the prime minister is confident about it, he pointed out that since a committee has been set up, “the government should operationalise the deal taking into account the committee’s decision. You have to wait till the 16th and we hope we’d do something in that meeting."

The UPA, which had been warned by the Left parties of serious consequences if it went ahead with the deal, had assured that the operationalisation of the agreement would take the committee’s findings into account.

In a distinct shift from his previous stand, the CPM general secretary said: “I have not talked of withdrawal of support to the government which maintained that it will take a stand on operationalising the deal, taking into account the findings of the committee. Our party is prepared to give as much time as necessary to discuss this vital matter.”

Echoing the views of Mr Karat, CPM patriarch Jyoti Basu who was also present in the state committee meeting, said the party “wants the Manmohan Singh government to continue in office”.