CPM jittery as Basu seeks retirement

CPM jittery as Basu seeks retirement
SANTWANA BHATTACHARYA

NEW DELHI, AUG 23: With the Congress going in for a revamp with a change of leadership in West Bengal and an upbeat Mamata Banerjee flexing her muscles with renewed vigour, the CPI(M) seems to be again having jitters about Jyoti Basu's retirement.

``The date has not been announced yet. He had first said July, then August, then September. But it has not been decided. It could be delayed,'' Biplab Dasgupta, senior CPI(M) and Rajya Sabha member, said this today, in spite of the recent statements issued from the CPI(M) headquarters on Alimuddin Street in Calcutta indicating Basu's retirement was very much on the agenda.

``His heart and blood pressure is in perfect condition,'' Dasgputa went on to point out. ``He has been wanting to retire for the past 10 years. But he continued.'' His statement indicated that Basu willing, the Left Front would like to have him continue.

Then the issue of Basu's heir apparent -- to all purposes, Buddhadev Bhattacharya -- is not fully clinched as yet. Though CPI(M) leaders insist ``our party does not discuss individuals'', there are some indications that the party Politburo is not entirely convinced that Buddhadev can step into Basu's shoes and carry the cross.

A section of the party is unhappy with Buddhadev's handling of his ministry (including the police) in the face of the recent spurt in rural violence in West Bengal. Some of the killings happened in CPI(M) stalwart and Lok Sabha member Somnath Chatterjee's constituency.

The reason being cited by the anti-Buddhadev lobby is that he does not have the stature to tackle the Centre or network with other state leaders. Hence, Chatterjee's name is doing the rounds. Apart from stature, he's known to have a pro-industry profile. Unlike Buddhadev.