Snubbing CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat, the Left Front government has invited expelled party leader and former Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee to the inauguration of Jyoti Basu Nagar at New Town on October 7. West Bengal housing minister and Hidco chairman Gautam Deb said he had sent the invitation to Mr Chatterjee. Mr Deb could not have taken this decision without seeking the consent of the Alimuddin Street bosses.
Mr Chatterjee may be persona non grata for the CPI(M) leadership in New Delhi but he has excellent personal relations with both chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and CPI(M) state secretary Biman Bose.
Mr Chatterjee said he would attend if health permitted. “Yes, I have been invited. Gautam even phoned me and requested me to attend. I will definitely attend if I am not indisposed on the day,” Mr Chatterjee said over the phone.
If Mr Chatterjee attends, he would be sharing the stage with top CPI(M) leaders. Mr Chatterjee has also invited several CPI(M) leaders to the inauguration of a charitable health centre at Santiniketan on October 2.