''We shall collectively strive to fulfill Mr Biswas' promise to CPI (M) leader Jyoti Basu and pay real tribute to the departed leader,'' he told at a meeting here to condole the death of Mr Biswas.

It was Mr Biswas, with whom he had worked closely in the Politbureau as also the Central Committee, who had first advocated the party's tactical line of extending outside support to the UPA Government to keep the ''communal forces'' at bay and at the same time, carry forward the class struggle in the country.

He said ''communal forces are posing a threat not only to the country's unity and integrity but also to the unity among working classes,'' he said.

Admiring Mr Biswas' quality of paying attention to even minute details, Mr Yechury recalled how the former predicted the party would fall short of the tally by five seats on the eve of counting in an earlier election to the West Bengal Assembly which came true.

Mr Biswas rewarded even those differed with him in party fora by giving suitable posts provided they implemented well the collective decision of the party.

Party Rajya Sabha Member Azeez Pasha said his death was a great loss not only to the party but also to the Left movement in the country.

Politbureau Member and Andhra Pradesh Secretary B V Raghavulu, expressing confidence that the Left front would win the elections in West Bengal and Kerala, said it would have impact on national politics too.

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