In a rebuff to the Left parties agitating for land distribution, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy has firmly ruled out constitution of an independent commission as demanded by them, a decision that could escalate the stand-off with the estranged allies.

Reddy, however felt that Congress-Left relations have not reached a breaking point in the state in the face of intensifying land agitation by the Communist Party of India and the Communist Part of India-Marxist.

"It, (constitution of the commission) cannot be done. No commission can be independent of the assembly. In a democracy, government is answerable to the people through the assembly," said Reddy.

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When asked about the Left's insistence on an autonomous commission to oversee distribution of land to the poor, Reddy snapped, "Under what law?"

However, he disagreed that this may rupture Congress-Left ties.

"In politics, there is no such thing as a breaking point. On some issues, we may agree and on others we may come together. Only at the time of elections, the issue of coming together or otherwise will arise," he said.

While ruling out the constitution of an independent commission with quasi-judicial powers, the chief minister said a high-level committee headed by him was on the anvil. This committee will look into the entire gamut of land-related issues. The state revenue minister will meet the co-chairman of the panel, which will also have other senior officials.

But Reddy made it clear that there will be no room for 'outside experts' in the committee, which will periodically review the status of land distribution.

The structure of the proposed commission has become a bone of contention between the Congress government and Left parties, spearheading the Bhoopatram (land agitation) for the last three months.

While taking a firm stand on the land issue, Reddy struck a conciliatory note on continuing alliance with the Left parties, saying secularism was their common agenda.

"Even on this issue, our ideology is one and the same, though we have differences in our approach, the ultimate goal is to benefit the poor," he said.

Though the Congress and Left parties had fought the 2004 elections together, the CPI-M has since gravitated towards the main opposition Telugu Desam Party and the CPI has also stepped up its offensive against the government on a plethora of issues.

Telangana Rashtra Samithi, another pre-poll ally, has already walked out of the United Progressive Alliance.

Asked whether it would still be possible to revive the alliance before the 2009 polls, the chief minister said, "Let's see. We will cross the bridge as and when it comes."

Reddy claimed the party high command firmly stood by him in dealing with the demands raised by Left parties.

"We are all aware that they are supporting us at the Centre. We should be as flexible as possible and we are doing that in a number of ways. But how can we go against the constitution (on land commission)," he said.

On Telangana issue, he said there was no change in Congress stand favouring constitution of a second States Reorganisation Commission to go into the demands for smaller states.

Denying that the package for Telangana, sought by him recently, was aimed at neutralising TRS, Reddy said, "It is a question of our sincerity. As and when there is an opportunity, we are trying to leave no stone unturned to develop backward regions of the state."

In an unambiguous message to Maoists, he said laying down arms by them will be a pre-condition for revival of peace talks.

"We will invite them for talks provided they give up arms. Yes, it is a pre-condition this time," Reddy said.

In tune with its pre-poll promise, the Congress government had in October 2004 held the first-ever direct talks with Maoists but the dialogue process collapsed subsequently. The chief minister scoffed at speculation over pre-term polls, saying there is no such possibility if political parties think objectively.

"But one cannot really say. If elections come now the only reason could be the Left withdrawing support on Indo-US nuclear deal issue. There is no other tangible reason."