Split over US nuclear deal threatens early Indian polls

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NEW DELHI, Jun 19 (AFP): India is headed for early elections due to a worsening split between the ruling Congress party and its left-wing allies over a nuclear deal with Washington, reports and officials said Thursday.

A government source told AFP that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh looks set to go ahead with implementing the pact with the United States, despite fierce objections from the communists who prop up his government in parliament.

Several Indian newspapers also predicted such a move, which would be certain to result in left-wingers pulling out of India's governing coalition and elections being called in November or December.

Government sources, who asked not to be named, said the prime minister and Congress party leader Sonia Gandhi wanted to move forward on the deal before the G8 summit on July 7, when Singh will meet US President George W. Bush.