“This time, I have informed the party in writing that I do not wish to continue in the politburo,” Basu told reporters at the party’s Alimuddin Street state headquarters after attending the routine Friday meeting of the state secretariat.

Basu has already made it clear that he will not be able to attend the CPM party congress scheduled to be held in Coimbatore in March-end.

Beset by age-related problems, he has been irregular in his attendance at politburo meetings, mostly skipping the ones not held here.