Speculation was rife about the Chief Minister's plans to retire on health grounds just before he left for London. The limited number of hours he put in at work added to the rumours. But resuming his duties today, which included discussions with two American Senators who paid the Chief Minister a courtesy visit, Basu declared that he felt fit.

A senior CPI leader and minister in the Left Front Government, Nanadagopal Bhattacharya, said: ``At a time when we are passing through a crisis at national level, Basu's retirement would have only hurt the Left movement in West Bengal and the country.''

Bhattacharya, who denied any discussions over Basu's retirement, said: ``As LF partners we feel happy that he has come back hale and hearty. We expect him to lead us into the next century.'' However, he saidthe issue of his retirement ``is essentially CPM's internal matter and I am not supposed to make any comments on what should be his party's decision.'' Echoing Bhattacharya's sentiments, a senior RSP leader and LF minister Debabrata Banerjee, said ``As long as his health permits, we expect him to lead us and we are glad that he has come back hale and hearty to lead us.''