Playing down the fresh ultimatum from Communist Party of India-Marxist to end negotiations with the International Atomic Energy Agency on the Indo-US nuclear deal by this month-end or risk early polls, Congress on Monday noted that the talks could even be over by the year-end.

"An assurance has already been given during the United Prohressive Alliance-Left committee meeting that after the IAEA talks, the government will come back to the committee," party spokesman Shakeel Ahmed told reporters in Delhi.

He said that the Indian team has already left for Vienna and the talks could be over before this month-end following which a final decision would be taken.

Ahmed also dismissed suggestions that the debate in Parliament on the deal showed that the government did not have the majority on the issue.

"I don't agree. Discussion in both the Houses were not held under a rule which entails voting," he said.

Ahmed's comments came at a time when Minister of State for External Affairs Anand Sharma in Shimla shrugged the Left threat and asked parties to rise above "political considerations" to end the country's nuclear apartheid.