'' The Congress was very cautious when discussing the alliance with the DIC(K) as we have a past record. The party has become vigilant in the backdrop of the past happenings when it faced defeat in the 2004 Parliament elections and also the resignation of nine MLAs loyal to Mr Karunakaran,'' he told reporters after the cabinet meeting here.

People should be taken into confidence before entering into any alliance, he said adding that it should also be not against the interest of the state.

Stressing that it was not a personal opinion, Mr Chandy said he was ready to accommodate anyone but maintained that a conducive atmosphere should be evolved for governance after winning the elections.

From the very beginning of the discussions with the DIC(K), Mr Chandy had said that the Congress stood by the Kochi Plenary meeting which maintained that anyone willing to accept the leadership of Sonia Gandhi was welcome back to the party. There were also reports that the Congress was willing for an alliance if the DIC (K) candidates fought the elections in ''hand'' symbol.

Congress Working Committee member incharge of Kerala affairs Veerappa Moily, who arrived here this afternoon, made it clear that there would not be two Congress parties within the UDF, giving a clear indication to the DIC(K) that if it wanted a tie-up, it should merge with the Congress.

Earlier, Pradesh Congress President Ramesh Chennithala, who returned here from New Delhi after meeting AICC president Sonia Gandhi, said a decision on the poll alliance with the DIC (K) would be taken today.

The United Democratic Alliance constituents, especially the Indian Union Muslim League had taken the initiative for a poll alliance between the Front and the DIC (K).

Mr Karunakaran had yesterday made it clear that his party would not accept any electoral alliance forfeiting its political identity.

Inaugurating the party state delegates session here, he said the DIC(K) was capabale of going it alone in the state and it had not gone after either the ruling UDF or the opposition LDF for any alliance.

Mr Karunakaran said his party would not hesitate to field candidates in all the 140 assembly constituencies in the state if the situation warranted.

Meanwhile, the DIC (K) held its Executive committee meeting but no declaration on the seats were made today.

Stating that tomorrow's executive meeting would take a final decision, Mr Muralidharan said the party would not hold talks with anyone once the name of the candidates were declared.

UNI PN ROY SHR RS1928