CPI for Basu as PM

PATNA, January 9: Communist Party of India CPI general secretary A B Bardhan today indicated here that the United Front was veering around to the idea of projecting Communist Party Marxist CPM stalwart and West Bengal Chief Minister Jyoti Basu as its prime ministerial candidate.

Bardhan informally told newsmen here that the CPI and other Left parties were willing to endorse Basu as the UF8217;s prime ministerial candidate during the lead up to the elections. The issue has remained ambiguous so far but it is expected to be resolved whenever the next meeting of the UF8217;s core committee takes place, Bardhan indicated.

Significantly, Basu was quoted as saying in Calcutta last week during the release of the Left8217;s list of candidates for West Bengal that the CPM would be part of the government if the UF is able to form one this March.