It's a deal, said Uncle Sam.

Right Sir, it's a deal, said Bharata, the India.

And then the war began.

The Indian communists are a most dedicated lot. They understood the crux of Marx so forcefully that they just could not divorce themselves from the hard basics-the conflict of Capitalism vs. Socialism. How on earth could they allow capitalistic USA to go ahead with the nuclear treaty or 123 agreement with their very own country? It was altogether a different matter whether they actually read the Nuclear Deal and its possible merits and demerits or not. Fortunately or unfortunately the communists formed a part of the ruling coalition government of the Indian Union.

Meeting and meetings between the coalition partners followed. Meetings held only to announce next dates, meetings with no results or meetings not attended by anybody. The interludes of 'Hey guys! Time is running out for the Deal. Hurry up!' by US spokespersons now and then made the drama all the more spicy. The only solid benefit that accrued from this was that the Indian media got regular headlines. And, the genuine opposition parties had absolutely nothing to deal with.

Invectives, charges, counter charges raged on for more than a year and on July 8, 2008 matters came to a head. The four left parties of the ruling coalition took the last resort and withdrew support reducing the government to a minority in the Indian parliament. For nearly two months prior to that they had been threatening to withdraw support. The war intensified.

Support for the government came from the most unexpected quarters. A leading political party of the Third Front which was formed as an alternative for the ruling alliance extended issue based support after consulting top nuclear scientists that the Deal was indeed beneficial for the country. Interestingly, the party that was named as a socialist one proclaimed no electoral motives or give and take or horse trading. They said their only interest was that of the country's welfare. Well, with general elections due early next year dissidence followed and the Third Front nearly broke up.

The fundamentalist right wing parties were not to lag behind. They made electoral preparations demanding a no confidence motion for the government as, they said, a minority government had no right to execute a deal and that they would definitely vote against the trust motion. The communists too promised to fight the government every step of executing the deal. The left and the right thus merged together in a most spectacular show of selfless national interest, maybe for the first time in the history of mankind.

Now the future of the Deal hung on the outcome of the trust motion. The government was sure of winning. The left, right, second, third and all fronted opposition are sure of pulling it down paving for early elections.

The war had presented all the shades. Lobbying, electoral give and takes, bargaining, horse trading, turnarounds, fence sitting and so on. Yet, as they all proclaimed, no politics.

Deal or no Deal, somebody is damn sure to have the last laugh. Who would it be?

Chinmay Chakravarty is a professional specialized in the creative field with over two decades of experience in journalistic writing, media co-ordination, film script writing, film dubbing, film & video making, management of international film festivals and editing of books & journals. Proficient in providing professional services in these related fields. Presently working in Mumbai Doordarshan as a News Editor.