The UPA-Left impasse over the Indo-US nuclear deal has taken a serious turn. Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s outburst on Sunday was aimed obviously against the Left parties. For Ms Gandhi to say from a public platform that those opposing the nuclear deal – meaning the Left parties and the Opposition – are anti-development and anti-people is clearly indicative of her growing frustrations with the Left as well as the resolve to go ahead with the deal. That Ms Gandhi chose to speak out also suggests that she does not expect an acceptable compromise with the Left regarding the nuclear deal in the ongoing consultations in the UPA-Left panel. Her attack came just a day after she also asserted her party’s readiness to face a snap Lok Sabha poll if that became an inevitable consequence of the nuclear stand-off with the Left.

The compelling backdrop for Ms Gandhi’s offensive seems to be that the UPA government cannot drag its feet any further on the nuclear deal in the hope of getting the Left on board. The time seems to have come when it can no longer wait on finalising the India-specific safeguards agreement with the IAEA. Mr Pranab Mukherjee, who is the chief troubleshooter to engage the Left over the issue, has even offered to call an early session of parliament for a debate if that can help hammer out a compromise. But it would appear that the Left remains steadfast in its opposition to going ahead with the deal.

A snap poll could be a logical necessity in the circumstances. But the Congress is putting the onus on the Left parties. After Sonia’s public assertions in Jhajjar on Sunday, the Left parties should have no doubts about the Congress’ commitment to the nuclear deal. In her estimate, it is for the Left parties to decide if they are still determined to go to the extent of forcing an election to uphold their opposition to the deal. Left has not blinked so far. But after Ms Gandhi’s challenge, blinking would be that much more difficult for the Left. They are left with no choice. Either they find some way to retract on their opposition to the deal or they face the prospect of an early election. The CPM that leads the Left bloc would be under extreme pressure to seriously ponder over the deteriorating situation when its politbureau meets in the capital next week.