CPI (M) defends Buddha over skipping politburo meet

New Delhi, Sep 5 (ANI): The Communist Party of India (Marxist) dismissed reports that West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee was deliberately avoiding party's two-day politburo meet, which began today on Saturday in the national capital.

According to reports, senior party leaders including Brinda Karat claimed that Buddhadeb had just recovered from viral fever and was advised by doctors to take rest, forcing party members urging him to stay back in Kolkata.

The CPI(M) Politburo is meeting to finalise a document to deal with its organisational problems, which led to its defeat in the recent polls in West Bengal and Kerala.

It is being assumed that topics regarding Lalgarh could be raised during the two-day meet, may have prompted Buddhadeb to give the meeting a miss.

It is also said that Buddhadeb is upset over reports of his successor or deputy being selected during the meet.

Differences between the West Bengal Chief Minister and CPI (M) leaders have been reported ever since party's failure in the Lok Sabha elections, especially after the defeat they experienced in West Bengal during Lok Sabha polls. (ANI)