Thursday, February 9 2006 11:12 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Kolkata: The ensuing Assembly elections in four states besides a host of issues, including airport privatisation, Iran and FDI in retail sector, would figure prominently at the crucial two-day politburo meeting of the CPI-M which began here this morning.

"Election will be the agenda," CPI-M general secretary Prakash Karat told reporters before the meeting.

Another politburo member Anil Biswas said, "we will decide tactical line for the upcoming elections in the meeting".

Though the only agenda of the meeting was a threadbare discussion on the coming assembly elections in four states, the Iran issue and economic matters like airport privatisation and retail in FDI would also figure, Biswas said.

The meeting was being held amid growing strain in ties between the Left parties and the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre, ahead of the February 13 UPA-Left Coordination Committee meeting.

The Left parties have threatened the UPA government saying that they would have to decide on 'what to do' if the Government failed to adhere to the Common Minimum Programme of the ruling alliance.