N-deal: CPI to withdraw support if govt goes ahead

If the United Progressive Alliance goes ahead with the India-United States nuclear deal the Communist Party of India will withdraw support, senior CPI leader Nandagopal Bhattacharya said on Tuesday.

"We cannot compromise on independence for certain benefits. Our stand was taken at the meeting in Delhi on August 17," Bhattacharya, a central secretariat member of the CPI said, claiming the Left parties were united on the issue.

Bhattacharya, the West Bengal water investigation minister said, "Any committee or compromise formula will not be of any use as we will not support the Congress on the 123 Agreement in the present form while the Americans will not go ahead with the agreement in diluted form."

He also dismissed the Bharatiya Janata Party's chance of coming to power in the event of a mid-term election.