Unfazed by the Left threat that the United Progressive Alliance will face heavy political consequences on the issue of Indo-US nuclear deal, the government on Monday said it would explore all possibilities to ensure that the Congress-led coalition completed its full term. But it stressed that it was still against compromising "basic principles".

External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said he did not think that the recent controversy over the deal would lead to the collapse of the government. The five-year term of the UPA government ends in May 2009. The minister also met Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Sitaram Yechury.    

Mukherjee's comments came a day after Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary Prakash Karat said the UPA regime would have to pay a heavy political price if it went ahead with the deal.

"The Congress is interested in running the government for full term. We will explore all possibilities. But it does not mean we will compromise on basic principles," Mukherjee, who had a meeting with Yechury, told reporters. He suggested that the Congress president Sonia Gandhi [Images], the prime minister and the Congress Working Committee would ensure that the matter was sorted out.

Mukherjee's statement assumes significant as it comes a day before the Congress Parliamentary Party meeting where Sonia is expected to take a decision about the imbroglio.