Anil critical; Biman, Buddhadeb to share responsibility

Kolkata, Mar 20 (UNI) The condition of CPI(M) State Secretary Anil Biswas today continued to be critical as he remained under minute observation under a team of doctors at a private nursing home.

Mr Biswas, who is also a Polit Bureau member, underwent a second surgery on his brain last evening for removal of clot following a massive haemorrhage that he suffered on March 18.

Veteran CPI(M) leader Jyoti Basu, Polit Bureau member Bindra Karat and CITU All India President M K Pandhe were among others who visited Mr Biswas today.

Meanwhile, briefing reporters after an emergency meeting of the state secretariat at the party office, CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat said West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and Left Front Committee Chairman Biman Bose, both shared the election responsibility of Mr Biswas in his absence. Both are polit bureau members.

The secretariat meeting held for the second time in the past 24 hours discussed the situation arising out of the sudden illness of Mr Biswas, before the coming assembly elections.

Besides Mr Karat, Mr Basu, Mr Bhatacharjee and Mr Sitaram Yechuri were among others present in the meeting.

Last night, Mr Karat who air-dashed to the city last evening held a meeting with Mr Basu immediately on his arrival.

The Secretariat, which reviewed the situation following the sudden illness of Mr Biswas, decided to distribute responsibilities among several senior leaders of the party to continue the momentum of activities for the coming assembly elections. The second meeting was held to delegate the responsibilities.

UNI KDG PK VP1305