Basu rules out split in CPM

CALCUTTA, AUG 28: West Bengal Chief Minister Jyoti Basu today asked “rebels” in the CPI(M) to leave the party if they wanted to, while ruling out a split in the party after its special plenum in Kerala in October.

Speaking to mediapersons at the Writers’ Buildings here this afternoon, Basu said: “Both the CPI(M) and the Left Front will stay.” He reiterated that if “anyone wants to leave the party, they can go.”

The special party plenum, which will adopt the new party programme, has fuelled much speculation among the party observers.

Asked whether the Centre, “spurred on by the RSS” was contemplating the imposition of the Article 356 in West Bengal, Basu shot back saying: “Let them do it first and we will see.” He further demanded to know what the Centre was doing about Karnataka and Tamil Nadu where a “dacoit” (Veerappan) was toying with two state governments by abducting film star Rajkumar.