Monday, April 11 2005 08:23 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: The Communist Party if India-Marxist (CPM) was last night (Apr 10, 2005) understood to have accepted the plea of its aging and ailing General Secretary Harkishen Singh Surjeet to step down making way for a much younger leader.

A meeting of the politburo late last evening discussed Surjeet's request and agreed to relieve of the responsibility, party sources said.

However, the politburo's decision was subject to clearance by the Central Committee and the party Congress, which concludes in New Delhi today (Apr 11, 2005).

A formal announcement is expected at the end of the Congress.

Surjeet, 89, is likely to be succeeded by senior politburo member Prakash Karat.

Former West Bengal Chief Minister Jyoti Basu, 91, has also expressed his desire to step down from the politburo.