Many commentators are disappointed and bewildered by the government’s failure to risk a snap poll in an effort to save face as well as the N-deal. But does the snap poll option at all exist for thegovernment? According to the political grapevine UPA allies Sharad Pawar, Karunanidhi and Lalu Yadav had warned the Congress that if it attempted a snap poll, they would withdraw support to the government. Reports about the reluctance of these leaders to face a snap poll have already appeared in the press. This threat by allies that are part of the UPA government is qualitatively very different from the threat held out by the Left.