July 18, 2005: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and US President George W. Bush agree on a nuclear deal in Washington.

March 2, 2006: India and the US sign the nuclear agreement during Bush’s visit to New Delhi.

July 28: The Left parties demand threadbare discussion on the issue in Parliament followed by a statement by either the Speaker or Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

August 3, 2007: India, US unveil 123 Agreement.

August 17: CPM general secretary Prakash Karat says that the “honeymoon (with government) may be over but the marriage can go on.”

March 6, 2008: Left parties set a deadline asking the government to make it clear by March 15 whether it intended to proceed with the nuclear deal or drop it.

June 17: Pranab Mukherjee meets Prakash Karat, asks the Left to allow the government to go ahead with IAEA safeguards agreement.

June 30: Prime Minister says his government prepares to face Parliament before operationalising the deal.

July 3: The Left parties decide to work out the timing and modalities of the pullout.

July 8: Left parties withdraw support to government. — PTI