Find a way out to end the crisis and resolve the standoff arising out of the Left ultimatum. That was the message from UPA allies to the Congress on Sunday, who made it clear that they were not willing to bear the political cost of the Indo-US nuclear deal by going for mid-term polls.

The view of alliance partners was conveyed this evening in a meeting presided by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi to discuss the political situation in the wake of Left putting government on notice by demanding that the deal not be operationalised. A meeting of the Congress core group was held prior to the UPA meet.

Working on the tight framework, government negotiators also got a window of opportunity when CPI(M) politburo member Sitaram Yechury suggested that a mechanism to look into implications of the Hyde Act passed by the US. With the Left suggestion, Pranab Mukherjee had another round of meeting with foreign secretary Shiv Shankar Menon, where the feasability of a committee to look into Left concerns was looked into. After clearances from the Prime Minister and Congress president, the proposal to set up an expert committee was put up before the UPA allies, who promptly agreed to it. The UPA also gave its approval to delay the debate in parliament until the Left got on board. The debate will now take place on August 27-29, with external affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee making a statement.

The suggestion for setting up of a mechanism to allay fears of Left parties over the American law on withdrawal cooperation with India in case of nuclear tests came during the discussion between Yechury and external affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee. ?If they (government) want to set up a mechanism we are ready for that,? Yechury said after a meeting with Mukherjee. The external affairs minister had called him to seek clarifications on Saturday?s politburo resolution which said the deal should not be implemented ?till all the objections are considered and implications of the Hyde Act evaluated.?

That concerted moves were being made to defuse the crisis became clear when Mukherjee said, ?We are making serious efforts.? However, after his meeting with Mukherjee, defence minister AK Antony and senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel, Yechury said there was no compromise formula. ?It depends on the government what to decide?.