``Our party's stand in this regard is clear,'' Basu told newsmen at the State Secretariat. ``But any party, including the AIADMK, can participate in the alternative government or extend support to it from outside.''

Stating that the Vajpayee Government's motion on the vote of confidence would be defeated in the Lok Sabha, the veteran Marxist leader said, ``Congress will form the alternative government, to which we will extend our party's issue-based support.''

He also expressed the hope that ``other like-minded parties'' would also lend support to such a Government to be formed by the Congress. Basu, however, did not specify those parties.

Basu earlier said that his party (CPI-M) would like the DMK to remain with theOpposition in defeating the vote of confidence against the Vajpayee Government.

Basu is scheduled to leave for Delhi tomorrow to attend the Politburo meeting beginning the next day, party sources said.