The delegates upheld the central committee's decision, arguing that joining the government would have done the party more harm than good. The central committee was divided on the issue and turned down by majority vote the UF's request that the CPM not only join the government but also lead it with Basu as prime minister.

But it was also a pyrrhic victory for the West Bengal Chief Minister that his minority view on the issue had been recorded at the congress. As chairman of the presidium that conducted the proceedings, Basu sat through the eight-hour-long debate on thepenultimate day of the congress today.The debate was the high point of an otherwise predictable party congress. It generated much heat, more so because Basu had openly criticised the Central Committee's decision, as a ``historic blunder'' in a newspaper interview.Several state party units were also divided on the issue. Even in West Bengal, some opponents of Basu's line took strong exception to his public criticism of the party decision.

Some even suggested that Basu be censured for violating party discipline. In the face of mounting controversy, both Basu and Surjeet called it a ``closed chapter''.

At the congress, feelings were running high and some delegates from Andhra Pradesh and Kerala indirectly assailed Basu yesterday for his open criticism of the party on the issue. Sensing the mood, the leadership decided that the issue would be discussed at length but barred delegates from mentioning either Basu or his ``historic blunder'' quote. But delegates were asked to restrict the debate to the issue ofparticipation in the UF government. Leaders were also anxious to avoid a vote on the debate. In all, 32 delegates evenly drawn from both camps were chosen to speak. Asked if there was a vote, Surjeet, looking extremely uncomfortable, said, ``You'll get to know the numbers tomorrow''.

Supporting the Surjeet-Basu line earlier in the day, West Bengal's Housing Minister Gautam Dev said that by refusing to join the UF government, the party had lost an opportunity to spread its influence in the country as well as offer an efficient administration. Another West Bengal delegate, Madan Ghosh, opposed the line, arguing that the party would have lost face as it would have been at the mercy of the Congress which was supporting the UF government from outside.

But despite today's debate, the issue was far from closed. The party will again take up the issue of joining a government at the Centre at a plenum where the draft for the revised party programme will be placed.The present party programme does not allow it tojoin a government unless the party has enough numerical strength to control it.