No question of Buddhadeb stepping down as WB CM: Biman Bose

Amid reports that Buddhadeb Bhattacharya has offered to quit following the Left Front's drubbing in the civic poll, CPI(M) state Secretary Biman Bose today said there was no question of the West Bengal Chief Minister stepping down from his post.

"The question does not arise. The matter has not been referred to the Central Committee. It has not been discussed in the state committee," Bose, who is in the capital to attend the two-day party Polit Bureau meeting, told reporters here.

His response came in the backdrop of reports about Bhattacharya offering to quit earlier this week after the Left Front faired poorly in the civic polls, which was dubbed as a semifinal ahead of the next year's Assembly polls.

Bhattachrya had last year also offered to quit from the post following the poor show in the Lok Sabha elections.
   
Out of the 81 municipal bodies, the Left Front won in only 18 municipalities while arch rival Trinamool Congress bagged 26. Congress bagged seven and the anti-Left alliance four. While results to 23 are hung, three have resulted in a tie.