The leaders of the United National Progressive Alliance met in New Delhi on Thursday for crucial deliberations on the India-United States nuclear agreement amid strong indications that the Samajwadi Party would break away from the group to back the United Progressive Alliance.
The meeting is being attended by SP president Mulayam Singh Yadav, party General Secretary Amar Singh, Telugu Desam Party Chief N Chandrababu Naidu, Indian National Lok Dal leader Om Prakash Chautala and B Goswami of the Assom Gana Parishad
The meeting assumes significance as it could well decide the future of the UNPA as SP, a key constituent, has lately indicated its mood to support the Congress-led ruling UPA.
In an effort to ensure that SP is brought to its fold, the government on Wednesday gave a special briefing to its leaders Amar Singh and Ram Gopal Yadav on the nuclear deal, to address their concerns over the agreement.
Singh later said the arguments given by National Security Adviser M K Narayanan to them would be put before the UNPA meeting so that these could be discussed.