Chennai, July 9 : Union Finance Minister Palaniyappan Chidambaram has defended External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee''s word on the nuclear deal with America.

Chidambaram, who was here to lay the foundation stone for the head office of the Indian Bank, said that the UPA Government is confident of winning the vote of confidence in Parliament when it convenes for its monsoon session.

He told reporters here after addressing a function here that after winning the vote of confidence, "We will press on with the implementation of civil nuclear deal with the US with the support of the Left parties.

He clearly indicated that he still hoped the Left parties would support the government in implementing the deal, and ruled out an early poll. (ANI)