CPI (M) ready for election: Basu

KOLKATA: In the midst of war of words between the Left and the Congress, Marxist veteran Jyoti Basu on Monday said his party leadership should see if it was possible to work out a compromise on the Indo-US nuclear deal.

Referring to Congress President Sonia Gandhi's speech on Sunday, he said if she wanted elections, they were also ready though they did not favour it.

"I have spoken to (Prakash) Karat and (Sitaram) Yechury after the meeting with Pranab Mukherjee. I told them to listen to what he (Mukherjee) had to say, to see if it is possible to work out a compromise," Basu told here.

He was referring to his meeting with Mukherjee here on Sunday in which Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya and party leader Biman Bose were also present.

On Gandhi's attack on opponents of nuclear deal, which was perceived to have been against the Left parties, Basu said "Sonia had made a good speech in New York. I don't know why she has changed her tone now. If she wants elections, we are ready," Basu said.

However, the CPI(M) partriarch said that he  did not favour elections at the moment.