take a political call soon on going ahead with the deal. The government is trying to force the issue with the Left before Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's proposed visit to attend the G-8 summit in Japan on July 7-9.
The government has virtually given the go-ahead to the foreign policy establishment and the department of atomic energy to prepare the final draft of safeguards agreement which could be signed with the IAEA.
If it decides on the deal, it could lead to a parting of ways with its Communist allies on whose support it depends for its survival in parliament - a step that could lead to early elections to which most of UPA allies are opposed to.
If India is not able to finalise the IAEA pact by July, the deal will be as good as dead as there will be very little time left to complete the next two steps - a waiver by the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) and ratification by the US Congress.
