About the possibility of the deal getting the Congress approval by mid-year, State Department spokesman Sean McCormack spoke of the constraints if India failed to complete the processes.

“I think that as you get further and further into the Congressional calendar, I think it’s fair to say it’s more and more difficult just because of the political realities of the press of business,” he said.

“The main issue now is the Indian Government working its domestic politics,” McCormack said. Mukherjee explained that the UPA Government was trying to bring around Left allies on the deal. “Currently, we are engaged in resolving the issues and trying to find out whether we can find a meeting ground between us and a section of our supporters.” He said the Government was “interested” in ratifying this cooperation because the country was energy deficient and “we would like to have alternate source of energy”.

Mukherjee said there had been “divergent views” on the deal not only from the Left but also the BJP.