New Delhi, October 23
The government is seriously planning to convene a brief session of Parliament next month ahead of Gujarat assembly elections to meet the Left and the Opposition parties to have a debate on the Indo-US nuclear deal. Sources said a decision to hold a two-week-long session is expected this week.

Normally, the winter session starts from the third week of November and concludes before Christmas. But this time because of Gujarat assembly elections, the winter session is likely to be advanced.

Apart from the demand for a debate on the nuclear deal, some political parties have been pressing for an advancement of Parliament session so that their leaders can go for campaigning in Gujarat poll scheduled to be held on December 11 and 16.

The government had already expressed its readiness to convene a special session of Parliament to discuss the nuclear deal to meet a demand of Left allies. The UPA had conveyed to the Left that while it had no problem in discussing nuclear deal in Parliament, it should ensure that a special session proceedings were not derailed by the main opposition BJP.

New Delhi, October 23
In yet another personal attack on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the BJP today took note of his alleged comments of being helpless on the Indo-US nuclear deal as even the allies had let him down, and posed a question before the nation, asking if a sad man could lead a resurgent nation.

The BJP said the nation needs an enthusiastic leader, who is decisive and not helpless. The nation needs to reflect on a question “Can a sad man lead a resurgent nation?” BJP general secretary Arun Jaitley said.