Kolkata, May 13: Veteran CPI(M) leader and former West Bengal chief minister minister Jyoti Basu today deplored the violence centering the panchayat polls, which left 25 people dead, and admitted that anti-socials had infiltrated his party. "Some anti-socials have crept into our party. During review of the panchayat poll, we have to identify these people. The party should be purged of these people as also the corrupt," Basu said. His comments came amidst allegations by opposition parties and as also from a ruling Left Front partner, RSP, that CPI(M) adopted terror tactics during the elections and was harbouring criminals. Basu who steered the Left Front government since 1977 before paving the way for Buddhadev Bhattacherjee said differences between RSP and CPI(M) should be sorted out through discussions so that the opposition could not cash in on it. "I hope RSP will not leave the ruling coalition and the front remains intact," he said and lamented that the two parties fought each other in over 6,000 seats.

Basu regretted that 42 people had lost their lives in violence across the state since the announcement of the date of election.

Bureau Report