Speaker of LS, not CPM, Somnath reminds party
Mr Somnath Chatterjee expressed annoyance over dragging him into a controversy.
By PTI |
NEW DELHI: Mr Somnath Chatterjee, whose continuation in the Speaker���s post became untenable after his name figured in the list of those withdrawing support to the government, on Thursday expressed annoyance over dragging him into a controversy.
���The honourable Speaker does not represent any political party in the discharge of his duties and functions. Since his election as Speaker, Mr Somnath Chatterjee has scrupulously kept himself away from all political activities,��� a Lok Sabha secretariat release said.
But the question now is not about his impartial conduct, but the correctness of holding the post after his name figured in CPM���s list to the President.
While friendly politicos like Amar Singh said there was no need for the resignation of Mr Chatterjee, rivals like Mamata Banerjee said Mr Chatterjee should immediately vacate the post.
But his party bosses are learnt to be livid over his delay in putting in the papers.
CPM general secretary Prakash Karat has already hinted that the party was keen on Mr Chatterjee joining the Left���s campaign against the government. ���I am sure the Speaker will decide on his own, taking into account all the circumstances,��� Mr Karat had said soon after he gave a list to President Pratibha Patil containing the names of ���all our MPs��� who have been elected to the Lok Sabha.
Noting that attention of Mr Chatterjee had been drawn to various reports, it requested the media not to drag the ���highest legislative office of the country��� into controversies by speculative reports and undeserved innuendoes.
���The honourable Speaker does not represent any political party in the discharge of his duties and functions. Since his election as Speaker, Mr Somnath Chatterjee has scrupulously kept himself away from all political activities,��� a Lok Sabha secretariat release said.
But the question now is not about his impartial conduct, but the correctness of holding the post after his name figured in CPM���s list to the President.
While friendly politicos like Amar Singh said there was no need for the resignation of Mr Chatterjee, rivals like Mamata Banerjee said Mr Chatterjee should immediately vacate the post.
But his party bosses are learnt to be livid over his delay in putting in the papers.
CPM general secretary Prakash Karat has already hinted that the party was keen on Mr Chatterjee joining the Left���s campaign against the government. ���I am sure the Speaker will decide on his own, taking into account all the circumstances,��� Mr Karat had said soon after he gave a list to President Pratibha Patil containing the names of ���all our MPs��� who have been elected to the Lok Sabha.
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The ���circumstances��� that Mr Karat referred to was the necessity of every member elected on the CPM nomination to take up the issue agitating the party. Mr Karat maintained this stand on Thursday when asked if Mr Chatterjee would step down. The Lok Sabha secretariat, however, sought to blame the controversy on the media. Noting that attention of Mr Chatterjee had been drawn to various reports, it requested the media not to drag the ���highest legislative office of the country��� into controversies by speculative reports and undeserved innuendoes.
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