New Delhi (PTI): Amid a stand-off between the government and Left over the Indo-US nuclear deal, NCP chief Sharad Pawar on Friday met CPI(M) leader Prakash Karat, and said the "concerns" of the supporting parties should be addressed while deciding on the issue.

Pawar, whose party is a key constituent of the UPA, met Karat early in the morning and the two discussed the latest situation arising out of the government's keenness to push the nuclear deal.

The two leaders are understood to have discussed ways in which the deadlock between the government and Left parties can be ended.

After the meeting, the Agriculture Minister said it should be looked into why the Left parties are opposing the deal and their "concerns should be addressed".

During the meeting, Karat is understood to have told Pawar that the government is safe till it does not take any further steps on the nuclear deal.

The NCP chief had hour-long discussion with External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee last evening on the issue.

Mukherjee had also held discussions with CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury on Thursday evening after a series of talks with UPA constituents, who are supportive of the deal but not in favour of early elections.