“Why only the Bharat Ratna? He should get other Ratnas too,” Chakraborty had told reporters on the sidelines of the party’s state conference, when asked whether the CPM should oppose India’s highest civilian award for the 94-year-old.

When reporters told Basu about Chakraborty’s comment, Basu retorted: “Tell Subhas to accept all that! I don’t take such things.” With much lobbying at the national level, the nominations for this year’s Bharat Ratna have thrown up names ranging from former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to BSP founder Kanshiram. Basu’s name cropped up last Friday when CPM state secretary Biman Bose said the party had no objection if Basu was given the award. The same day, Congress’ Veerappa Moily had suggested Basu’s name, saying if the BJP could propose Vajpayee then the Congress could very well back Basu.