Somnath Chatterjee turns 79, to continue as Speaker

It may be recalled that ever since the Left parties decided to withdraw their support to the Congress party-led coalition government, citing political differences over the India-US nuclear deal, the party leaders had been at loggerhead with Chatterjee, who was asked to quit his office as the Speaker.

Though Chatterjee was unanimously elected for the office of the Speaker, yet, as was elected to the parliament on the party's ticket, the senior CPI(M) leaders saw it fit that he step down.

However, Chatterjee turned a deaf ear to the party's demands, saying the post of the Speaker was above party politics and the Speaker "does not represent any political party in the discharge of his duties and functions," and, in a clear rebuff to the party, he continued to carry on his duties as the Speaker and presided over the confidence motion that resulted in the coalition government's victory.

Smarting from their defeat, the Left leaders soon thereafter vented their ire on Chatterjee, expelling him from the CPI(M).

"The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) has unanimously decided to expel Somnath Chatterjee from the membership of the party with immediate effect," a statement issued on Wednesday, after a Polit Bureau meeting chaired by CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat, that discussed his defiance, read.