Monday, January 9 2006 17:50 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Coimbatore: The Communist Party of India-Marxists' (CPI-M) Tamil Nadu unit would release its election manifesto at its one-day conference to be held on February 18 at Madurai, party central committee member N Sankaraiah said here today (Jan 9, 2006).

The conference, to be addressed by party General Secretary Prakash Karat, would discuss the electoral strategy to be adopted to defeat the AIADMK Government, he told a press meet.

The party would continue to cooperate with DMK, heading the Democratic Progressive Alliance in the State. However, the CPI-M was not interested in becoming a member of the Government, if the alliance was voted to power and would only extend outside support, he said.

On whether there was any decision on seat-sharing with DMK for the assembly polls, he said the State committee, including secretary, N Varadharajan would discuss the matter at an appropriate time.

On elections in West Bengal and Kerala, Sankaraiah said though it may appear ridiculous that CPI-M, giving outside support to United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government at the Centre, was fighting Congress in these states, the party's only objective was to prevent the "communal BJP" from returning to power (at the Centre).