Mulayam is with us, claims Lalu

New Delhi, July 1: RJD chief Lalu Prasad, who is believed to be making efforts to bring Congress and Samajwadi Party together, on Tuesday clamed that Mulayam Singh Yadav's party is with the UPA and expressed confidence that both the government and nuclear deal would survive.

The Railway Minister made this comments hours after meeting Congress president Sonia Gandhi, during which he is understood to have conveyed Yadav's terms and conditions to her with regard to the support over the nuclear deal issue.

"Sarkar bi rahega, deal bi chalega (the government will survive and the deal will go through)," Prasad told reporters in New Delhi when asked to comment on the stand-off between Congress and Left parties over the Indo-US nuclear deal.

Asked about the possibility of SP supporting the UPA government, he said, "We are together and will remain together always."

SP, which has 39 members in Lok Sabha, is understood to have put forth certain terms and conditions for backing the government, the sources said.

The 39 MPs of SP would have a crucial role in ensuring survival of the UPA government in case Left parties, with 59 MPs, withdraw support.