Jyoti Basu to retire from active Politics

Jyoti Basu, the veteran CPI-M leader and former Chief Minister of West Bengal has expressed his desire to step down as a member of the Politburo on health grounds. The 94-year old patriarch won't be attending the party congress next month. According to Mr. Basu, he has already sent a written communication to party General Secretary Prakash Karat in this regard.