Plans for a meeting between the parties, whose falling-out could spark early elections, come the day after Communist Party leader Prakash Karat demanded the government shelve the controversial accord with Washington for six months.

The pact, if implemented, would allow energy-hungry India to buy civilian nuclear technology while possessing nuclear weapons despite not having signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

But the communists, who prop up the government in parliament, say the deal would bring traditionally non-aligned India uncomfortably close to the United States and could limit its nuclear weapons programme.

Government sources said the talks will involve a 15-member panel set up to examine complaints over the pact, including members of Congress and its left-wing governing allies.

The panel held one unsuccessful meeting earlier this month, and the disagreements have been described as the most serious to rock the coalition since it came to power in 2004.

The dominant Congress party of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, however, has been lobbying hard for the nuclear accord to be moved forward -- arguing the country's booming economy is in desperate need of all energy options.

It has scheduled talks with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on inspections as a precursor to being given access to nuclear fuel, and foreign ministry sources said IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei was due to visit India in the next four weeks.

The deal also requires the approval of the US Congress before it can be implemented, and New Delhi must also conclude an agreement with the 45-member Nuclear Suppliers' Group before it can buy power plants and technology.

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