Participating in a Meet-the-Press programme of the Kesary Memorial Journalists Trust, he said the DIC(K) had only an electoral tie-up with the Congress-led United Democratic Front(UDF) in the April-May Assembly elections in the state.

There was not any agreement that the DIC(K) would merge with the Congress after the elections, he said and added that the claim of Congress leaders that such an agreement existed was 100 per cent baseless.

"The merger issue is not in our agenda now. It is a matter to be decided after ascertaining the views of party workers and the political situation prevailing at that time," he said.

Mr Karunakaran claimed the DIC(K) would emerge as a decisive force whichever coalition came to power after the elections.

He said he was not fully happy with seat sharing with the UDF as his party got only 18 seats even though it had demanded more. The DIC(K) had to satisfy with the 18 seats as the deadline for filing nominations fast approached.

Asked whether he would share platform with Chief Minister Oommen Chandy in campaigning, Mr Karunakaran said he was ready for that if the Congress agreed to it and prepared the campaign schedule accordingly.

When his attention was drawn to the statement of KPCC President Ramesh Chennithala that Mr Chandy would be the Chief Minister if the UDF returned to power, he said it was for the MLAs to decide after the elections who should be the Chief Minister. The views of the UDF constituents had also to be taken into consideration to decide the matter, he added.

UNI PMM1350