Oppn may make Basu’s “escape” an issue in assembly poll

Incidentally, even Basu has admitted, when requested to make an assessment of his tenure, that “there are certain weak areas with the administration which need to be addressed to”. However, Basu did not, in keeping with his characteristic style of uttering half-sentences, choose to elaborate.

Though Basu will probably hit the campaign trail soon and reply to the charges of the Opposition against the Front which he led since June 1977 when he was first sworn in as Chief Minister, some LF partners feel “Basu’s absence and the anti-incumbency factor may to add to the odds”.

Incidentally, CPI(M) leaders — who may have already understood the way the Opposition may interpret Basu’s retirement to the people — have began saying that they aren’t worried since “Basu will be with us and guide us in the elections”.

Speaking to the Press just after Basu announced his retirement, party state secretary Anil Biswas warned reporters that they shouldn’t think that “by quitting the chief ministership, he is taking retirement from politics”. What Biswas said apparently echoed Basu’s earlier assurance to the party, “I will be with the party till death.”

It’s also widely believed that till the elections are over, Basu may have to spend more time from home or Allimduddin Street — the party headquarters — guiding his party, Front members and of course, Buddhadeb Bhattacharya who succeeds him next week.

However, the cutting edge of the Opposition campaign on the retirement issue will also depend on how Bhattacharya carries with him senior ministers of the CPI(M) and the Front. A successful new Chief Minister, in administrative terms, will no doubt leave Banerjee’s broadsides on the issue of Basu’s retirement a little blunt.