Somnath was a ‘deviated comrade’: Karat

CPM general secretary Prakash Karat has referred to former Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee as a “deviated comrade” and claimed that the expulsion was a “correct” decision for the party. CPM sources said,Karat’s reference came at the central committee meeting,while he was explaining the need for strong action against any deviation from party discipline.

“The case of former Lok Sabha speaker was an instance of “deviation” and it is also true that the action which was taken against such deviation was correct on part of the party discipline,” Karat has reportedly said in the meeting. Even though so many cases of “deviation” and “corruption” are pending with the party,Karat’s reference to Chatterjee was a hint that he will not allow Chatterjee to come back to the party,sources said.

In any case,Chatterjee,while talking to The Indian Express after Jyoti Basu’s death,had also made it categorically clear that he was not interested in returning to the party. Basu,when alive,had made it very clear on several occasions that the Speaker cannot be directed by any political party. Basu had asked Chatterjee to preside over the July 2008 trust vote and left the decision on Chatterjee whether he will quit the post after the trust vote.

In the central committee meeting,meanwhile,members discussed the issue of creating a national-level disciplinary committee to check deviations and infiltration of bourgeois vices in the party. The discussion was held on a note presented by Karat,derived from the “self appraisal” report given by 13 politburo members on Wednesday.