The CPI (M) made its line clear on the very first day of the ongoing 16th party congress yesterday, and it was received on predictable lines. ``We welcome the CPM's decision. It is an indication of secular parties coming together against the BJP, VHP and the Bajrang Dal,'' Congress spokesperson Girija Vyas said today.

The BJP, which is the target of the Congress-CPI (M) joining hands, is upset. Party general secretary Venkaiah Naidu felt the CPI (M) would repent joining hands with the Congress.

The CPI (M)'s ``latest political skulduggery'' had not come as a surprise to the BJP, he said, adding, ``The CPI (M) has found its rightful place among corrupt, casteist, communal and criminal parties andpoliticians.''

Naidu said the CPI (M) should clarify on what issues it would extend support, pointing out that it had been attacking the Congress on issues like Bofors and the securities scam, and accusing it of ruining the country's economy.

The BJP leader accused the CPI (M) of lacking in ideology, honesty and political integrity. In the past, it joined the campaign against the Congress when it suited the party and also supported the Janata Party government in 1977 and then the Janata Dal government in 1989, he said.

After agreeing to join hands with ``rank casteist and criminal outfits'' like those headed by Mulayam Singh Yadav and Laloo Prasad Yadav, the CPI (M) had no moral right to brand the BJP as communal, he said.

Meanwhile, the BJP has begun preparing for next month's Assembly elections in four states even as the party is stepping up its campaign against the Bihar Government. A booklet titled `Laloo-Rabri Regime's Jungle Raj Must End!' was released at the party headquarters yesterday.

Theparty's central election committee is to meet here on November 1,2 and 3 to finalise candidates for the polls in Delhi, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Mizoram while its central office bearers will meet on October 23 to consider draft manifestos for each state.

The state party units have been asked to finalise their recommendations for candidates by October 30, besides setting up manifesto committees and election campaign committees.