Leader of Opposition L K Advani on Friday held the Congress responsible for creating a sense of uncertainty at the Centre and indicated that the country was headed for a mid-term poll early next year. He was referring to the UPA-Left stand-off on the 123 nuclear deal with America.

Advani, who is in Gujarat campaigning for his party, said since August this year, the UPA Government had almost become non-functional. “There is speculation of a mid-term poll. All this has been invited by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh through an interview given to a Kolkata-based newspaper, where he had said the nuclear deal was non-negotiable and had dared his Left allies to withdraw support,” he said, adding that since then there had been a “battle of statements” between the Congress and Left. Advani also referred to UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi’s statement that “those who opposed the deal opposed development”.

“The Congress is responsible for this instability,” Advani said adding that with the current situation, the UPA Government at the Centre would not complete its term till 2009.

“But then the Left allies have also said they don’t want to destabilise the Government,” Advani pointed out adding that though the Prime Minister had put his reputation at stake for the deal, it would not be surprising if the deal was put in cold storage and the UPA Government succumbed to the Left pressure.

“Dr Manmohan Singh has already proved himself to be the weakest ever Indian Prime Minister. If he chooses to heed the Left’s threat, he will surely invite a serious credibility crisis upon himself,” Advani said. “In any case, this is a downhill journey for the UPA Government.”

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