The Front assumed office on June 21, 1977.

On Thursday, its chairman, Biman Bose, announced that the celebration will be attended by Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, who has been skipping routine political work since the recent civic polls debacle.

Sources in CPM said a section of party leaders are strongly opposed to any jubilation since they feel that the wave of change may unseat the government led by Bhattacharjee in 2011. This is not a time to celebrate, they felt.

But senior leaders like Biman Bose and Benoy Konar felt that a celebration will send a message to people that the Front is still in political reckoning.

The seventh Left Front government took charge with an overwhelming mandate in May 2006, with 235 legislators in a House of 294. But since July 2006, Bhattacharjee faced a complete turnaround with virtually every project being stalled. All ventures involving industrialisation were badly affected and private, Left leaders admit that the government could not perform due to volatile political situation.

“In this context, the celebration is insignificant since for last 33 years, such programmes were held to propagate the success stories of the government,” said a leader. “But this time, it would be very difficult to claim any success. Still we have to celebrate to encourage our cadres.”

“In the past we had many success stories like land reforms, literacy and panchayati raj,” said another leader. “But this time, all previous successes are shadowed by the wave of change.”

Elaborating on the decision, Biman Bose said the celebration programme will be held on June 21 at Netaji Indoor Stadium. But no central leaders — including CPM general secretary Prakash Karat and Sitaram Yechuri ¿ will attend.

Party sources said Bose has requested Bhattacharjee to attend and though he is depressed at the current political situation, the chief minister has accepted.

“When Jyoti Basu was the chief minister, he attended the annual programme,” said Bose. “Even Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee never skipped the celebration program and this time too, he will attend.”