India’s government is scrambling to shore up political support in a last-ditch effort to save its landmark nuclear energy agreement with the US, even though the deal is already written off as dead by many in Washington.

US officials say it is probably impossible for the deal to receive approval in the US Senate before President George W. Bush leaves office in January. They say not enough legislative time is left following the Indian government’s failure so far to reach agreement on the deal with its parliamentary allies.