Political parties invited for Nandigram peace talks

Kolkata, May 22 (UNI) All political parties, except the BJP, have been invited for the proposed all-party peace talks on Nandigram to be held here on May 24.

Though Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee will not be present, Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee is expected to attend the crucial meet with representatives from all other parties, including the CPI(M), joining the talks.

''I have sent invitation letters to all political parties after talking to the Left Front Chairman Biman Basu and Ms Mamata Banerjee.

The Chief Minister will not be able to attend the meeting, but it has been decided that representatives from all the nine constituents of the Left Front besides, other parties will be present,'' Forward Bloc state Secretary Ashok Ghosh told reporters.

Mr.Ghosh, the convener of the proposed meeting, said he had also requested CPI(M) Polit Bureau member Jyoti Basu to attend the meeting though the veteran leader had been keeping an indifferent health.

''Mamata told me that she would participate in the meeting with representatives from the associate parties of the Trinamool Congress while I have pleaded for the presence of Mr.Biman Basu, who is also the CPI(M) state Committee Secretary, though he has to leave for Delhi the same day for his party's Polit Bureau meeting,'' Mr Ghosh said.

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