Kolkata, May 25: The crucial meeting of CPI(M) politburo began here this morning to decide party's stand on Congress' offer of Lok Sabha Speaker's post to senior leader Somnath Chatterjee and also discuss the draft of the common minimum programme of Congress-led up government.
The meeting is also likely to discuss inclusion of leaders having criminal background into the Manmohan Singh-led coalition government at the Centre.
"Baat cheet karte hain (let us talk)," CPI(M) General Secretary Harkishen Singh Surjeet told reporters in reply to a question on the issue.
The meeting is also being attended by politburo members Jyoti Basu, Sitaram Yechuri, Prakash Karat, Anil Biswas, Biman Bose, Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar and M K Pandhey.
Bureau Report