The Communist Party of India-Marxist politburo meeting, which began in Kolkata on Tuesday, did not discuss party partriach Jyoti Basu's desire to quit from the highest decision-making forum due to ill-health and age.

"The issue was not discussed," CPI-M politburo member M K Pandhe told reporters when asked whether Basu had raised the issue at the meeting.

The party needed him for advice and guidance and there was no question of Basu stepping down, party general secretary Prakash Karat had said after the party Congress in Delhi in 2005, according to politburo member Biman Bose.

About a month ago, after Basu slipped and fell in his Salt Lake house, he had told Karat that he wanted to quit.

Basu had told PTI on Monday that his health was not permitting him to attend politburo sessions outside Kolkata, which was why he wanted to be relieved.