Seeking to cap the controversy over public statements by its leaders on Jagmohan Dalmiya's re-election as CAB president, the CPI-M on Saturday directed them to refrain from commenting on the issue.
The party authorised only state secretary Biman Bose to speak to the media.
"There has been much discussion (on the Dalmiya issue). Biman (Bose) will tell the media whatever has to be said. No one else (in the party) will say anything," veteran Marxist leader Jyoti Basu told reporters after a meeting of the CPI-M state secretariat.
The July 30 elections of the Cricket Association of Bengal had sparked a controversy after West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee publicly stated that he wanted Dalmiya not to contest the polls.
After Dalmiya retained the president's post by defeating Kolkata Police Commissioner Prasun Mukherjee, who was backed by the Chief Minister, Bhattacharjee went hammer and tongs against the cricket administrator, describing his re-election as a "victory of evil over good".
Virtually disapproving of Bhattacharjee's stand, Basu had said the matter would be discussed in the party.
{{/usCountry}}Virtually disapproving of Bhattacharjee's stand, Basu had said the matter would be discussed in the party.
{{/usCountry}}The state secretariat meeting also discussed preparations for the August seven meeting of the state committee, which is being held in the backdrop of the tussle between Left parties and the Central government over the Indo-US nuclear deal, price rise and reallocation of agricultural land to industry in West Bengal.