WHERE THEY STAND

Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam: The MDMK, an erstwhile minor partner of the UPA, has announced that it will not support the Indo-US nuclear deal as it harms sovereignty of the country. The decision to vote against the issue, announced by party leader Vaiko at Chennai on Wednesday, was not surprising as the party was ousted from the Central alliance after it decided to go with the AIADMK, arch rival of the DMK, in the last Assembly polls. 8220;If the deal is signed, India will be surrendering its nuclear independence to that country,8221; Vaiko said.

Lalu on Nitish for his volte-face on deal: Union Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav on Wednesday hit out at Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar8217;s 8220;volte-face8221; on the nuclear deal. Speaking at a function here, the RJD president asked: 8220;I wonder if it was the same Nitish Kumar who had vouched for a nuclear power plant at Nalanda during his early days as CM?8221; He added that the 8220;Left8217;s withdrawal of support at this juncture is like pulling the chain of the development train8221;. Although the UPA is proverbially and literally 8220;left8221; in the lurch, the RJD chief made his 8216;affection8217; for the Left parties clear, describing the recent break at the Centre as 8220;lost love8221;.

Sikkim Democratic Front: The SDF on Wednesday endorsed the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal stating that the agreement would 8220;enable our country to generate nuclear energy in the years to come8221;. 8220;We fully stand by the Prime Minister and the nuclear deal and would accordingly support the confidence vote to be moved by the Prime Minister in the Lok Sabha whenever he decides to seek it,8221; Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling said here.