Date:23/02/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/02/23/stories/2008022360201200.htm

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Jyoti Basu wants to quit Polit Bureau

Special Correspondent

Jyoti Basu.

KOLKATA: Veteran Marxist leader Jyoti Basu on Friday said he did not wish to continue in the Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) in view of his age and health.

“I do not desire to stay on in the Polit Bureau and have informed the party leadership,” he said as he emerged from a State secretariat meeting here. He would not be able to attend the 19th party congress to be held in Coimbatore from March 29 to April 3.

In 2005, a decision was taken at the 18th congress to ask Mr Basu to continue in the Polit Bureau though the leadership was aware that he would not be able to work as actively as he did in the past.

At a subsequent meeting, the Polit Bureau decided that Mr. Basu continue to assist and advise the party till the coming congress.“We will see what can be done at the next party congress,” CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat then said, referring to Mr Basu’s request to be relieved of his responsibilities in the Polit Bureau and the central committee.

It was for health reasons that Mr Basu stepped down as Chief Minister in 2000. Now 93, he has not been attending Polit Bureau meetings held in New Delhi for some time.

Keep CMP in mind, Centre urged

On the Union budget, Mr Basu said the Centre was asked to “keep in mind the interests of the common people and particularly farmers.” The Centre “should keep in mind the Common Minimum Programme. They have not been doing so and this has been our complaint.” The CMP provisions were not being adhered to in matters of both “foreign and internal policies.”