As the UPA government faces the vote of trust in Parliament on July 22 and all political parties now concentrating on numbers which will decide the fate of the Indo-US nuclear deal, Indian industry on the other hand, has been left in the lurch.

After years of resistance and bluff calls in almost all economic reforms, Communists are now gathering muscle (tying-up with Mayawati's Bahujan Samaj Party) to fight the UPA government. At the same time, the Congress with the support of Samajwadi Party feels they can beat the opposition and thus go ahead with the deal.

Interestingly, in this game of numbers and ulterior motives none except a select few know or in fact want to know about the nuclear deal and its benefits.

The Left had always been fiercely opposing any step towards economic reform taken by the government. They still remained with the UPA for four long years...surprising, yet later becoming predictable.

Samajwadi Party general secretary Amar Singh said his party decided to support the Indo-US nuclear deal after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's assurance that the N-deal was in the interest of the nation. Yes, this is the same Amar Singh who had a couple of months back said that his party would not succumb to nuclear blackmail, is now supporting the nuclear deal.

Mayawati and the politics of her party have nothing to do with anything connected to the US, leave alone the India-US nuclear deal and are aligning with the Left just to settle a score with Amar Singh and his Bollywood friend Big B. Ever since the Samajwadis pledged support for the deal, Mayawati has been portraying the deal as anti-Muslim. Speaks volumes about her party's nuclear and foreign policy!

The Left who had always said that they would do anything to keep Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) out of power will now be sitting together and fighting against a government of which they too were a part of, a couple of days back.

So as July 22 nears, some politicians are taking up the task of being king-makers while others are trying to keep their crowns intact.

So who's the loser as politicians fight amongst themselves? The Indian industry which has been facing increasing input costs and is thus losing its cost-advantage, finds no attention from the government! Recent figures also indicate that there is an overall slowdown in the economy and if this uncertainty continues and the government is not able to concentrate on the economic situation arising out of zooming inflation, the industry will be badly hit.

The communists had blocked the process of economic reforms, and did not allow the government to initiate any policy steps. The country needs energy to boost economic growth and have a competitive edge over rivals. Will the Left leaders ever understand?

By favouring the nuclear deal I might sound pro-Congress. Don't get me wrong...I'm actually pro-growth. India needs energy to fuel its economy and with no other alternative in hand, the deal is the only option for power to help the industry to march forward. For once politicians need to set aside petty politics and think for the welfare of the country. No harm in hoping, I suppose!