Karat discusses party congress with Basu

Kolkata, Mar 20 (UNI) CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat today discussed at length matters relating to the coming party congress with veteran Marxist Jyoti Basu at the latter's Salt Lake residence here.

Party sources said matters pertaining to the CPI(M)'s relationship with the UPA, especially the Congress, and the possibility of forming the Third Front also figured in the meeting.

Mr Karat was accompanied by West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and CPI(M) state secretary Biman Bose.

The CPI(M) patriarch had earlier said he would not attend the party congress due to his illness.

Political observers felt that the party congress will determine the CPI(M)'s political line for the next three years.

The party congress would be held at Coimbatore from March 29 to 31.

UNI ADG SJC SK RS1817