The state secretariat meeting was scheduled to discuss strategy for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.

The nonagenarian leader has been deemed unfit to come out of his residence since he fell down in his bedroom last September. He had sustained a head injury and doctors had advised him to take rest.

Everyone was surprised at the party office on Friday, when Basu arrived with his private assistant Joykrishna Ghosh. “For the last few days Basu has been telling Ghosh that he wanted to visit the party office at least once a week,” said a senior party leader.

“It was very disappointing for Jyotibabu that he could not address the Left Front rally at Brigade Parade ground on February 8,” he added.

Considered one of the most influential Left leaders in the country, Basu was missed at the massive rally, where the party had kicked off its election campaign.

This was the first time that Basu had not attended a rally at the Maidan. A message sent by him was, however, read at the gathering amid applause.