Veteran Marxist Jyoti Basu, who along with another stalwart Harkishan Singh Surjeet could not attend the Communist Congress in Coimbatore due to age and ill-health, on Saturday asked the party to carry forward its task of mobilising the people with greater vigour to build a society free from exploitation.

CPI-M delegates viewed a video-recorded message from 94-year-old Basu, to the 19th Party Congress, during the inaugural session in rapt attention and applauded after it was over.

Expressing regret that he could not attend the Congress for health reasons, Basu said the communist party was established eight decades ago, during the height of anti-British struggle.

 The Communist movement united people irrespective of caste, creed, religion or language and fought discrimination against women, he said.

Observing that Left support to the United Progressive Alliance was based on certain agreed principles, Basu said the policies pursued by the government had led to only a few prospering with most others remaining in want. He also made it clear that the CPI-M "cannot favour any junior partnership with United States imperialism".

"I have been in the party for 67 years now. I want you all to carry forward the tasks laid down by the party. I myself will not be able to do much because of my age and health, but will do whatever is possible," the nonagenarian leader said.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi expressed happiness over the conduct of the Congress in the state. He wished all success to the party and expressed hope that the Congress would come out with good resolutions for the benefit of the people.