Calcutta: Marxist icon Jyoti Basu may be keen to leave politics, but politics seems to be in no mood to leave him.

Now that Basu's imminent retirement as chief minister of West Bengal seems to be an accepted fact, some partners of the ruling Left Front have proposed that he continue to serve the cause of Communism by taking up the post of chairman of the coalition.

Basu, 87, has long been wanting to step down from his post in view of his advancing age and frail health, but had agreed to continue till the Assembly elections next year. However, the chief minister seems to have decided on retirement by next month after his sudden illness last month.

Speculation is rife the "retirement" could take place next month because the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) has already begun addressing the issue of his successor before the Assembly elections due in May next.

But Front partners are unwilling to let go of Basu completely. Two of the major constituents of the coalition - the Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) and Forward Bloc (FB) -- now want Basu to be persuaded to take up the post of chairman of the Left Front and play an advisory role for the government.

FB leader Ashok Ghosh told IANS that his party would demand that Basu be approached with a request to accept the chairmanship of the Front. "I will personally speak to Anil Biswas (state secretary of the CPI-M) in this regard," he said.

RSP leader Debabrata Bandhopadhyay has also made a similar demand. "He may either accept the chairmanship of the Left Front or stay in an advisory capacity," he said. Another coalition partner, the Communist Party of India (CPI), also feels that Basu should have a role in the running of the government.

Front leaders are optimistic Basu would not say 'no' to the proposal because he said in the past he would continue to help the party and government even after his retirement. However, sources said Basu was not interested in the offer.

It was also learnt that if Basu declines the offer of chairmanship of the coalition, then the Front could consider creating a special post of "chief advisor" for him.

Political observers feel the Communist leaders were bent on connecting to Basu in some way or other because they still expected to benefit from the charisma of the octogenarian politician, more so ahead of the Assembly elections.

Another reason for the Front's insistence on having Basu in some role or the other is because of the "general acceptance" he finds among all the coalition partners. The chief minister has always stepped in to iron out difference within the coalition that at times threatened to crack it.

Meanwhile, Basu has denied that he had fixed a date for retiring. It had been speculated that he could retire any time after September 15 because the chief minister's office had stopped fixing any official engagement after that date. However, indications are that he will advance his retirement, and not wait until completion of next year's elections.

India Abroad News Service