Kolkata, Jan 13: Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath
Chatterjee on Monday appeared lukewarm to the speculations on
bringing him back to the CPI(M), saying that he would not
appeal to the party.
"I won't appeal," Chatterjee told PTI over phone while on
his way to Bolpur when asked if he would like to be taken back
to the party.
Stating that he was not aware of any such move,
Chatterjee said, "I just read about in newspapers. Nobody told
me anything about this."
Asked for his reaction if the CPI(M), with which he was
associated for five decades, took him back, Chatterjee
retorted, "it's a hypothetical question."
Chatterjee, who was yet to reconcile himself with his
expulsion seven months ago, said he had not done anything that
could warrant such a harsh action against him.
Asked to comment on West Bengal Transport Minister and
CPI(M) state secretariat member Subhas Chakraborty's letter to
state party secretary Biman Bose seeking his return to the
party, he said, "I have no knowledge. No idea.”
"I did not call for a review or reconsideration of the
decision of the party which took the step after consideration.
They (CPI-M) have a right to take a decision."
Meanwhile, the Transport Minister today confirmed he had
written to CPI(M) State Secretary Biman Bose about bringing
Chatterjee back.
"Chatterjee is a veteran and a top-ranking leader of the
party and people like him should not be kept out. He should be
taken back," Chakraborty said.
Bureau Report
First Published: Tuesday, January 13, 2009, 00:00