CPM cannot issue a notice to me: Somnath

Chatterjee also said CPI(M) cannot issue a notice to him for not heeding its call to quit his post as he was “not a member of the Politburo”.

“They (CPI-M) cannot give me a notice because I am not a Politburo member…I will decide (when or whether to resign),” Chatterjee said.

His response came to a query about the CPI(M) decision authorising the Politburo to take “appropriate action” against him for defying the party line.

Questioning the importance of the day, he asked “July 22 ka kya karega (What is so special about July 22)?”

Earlier in the day, when asked the similar question he shot back: “Did I say month and year?”

Chatterjee has been under intense pressure from the CPI(M) to resign after the party withdrew support to the government and even listed him as among the party MPs who had withdrawn support.

The CPI(M) wanted him to toe the party line but he defied and remained in the post. Lately, there have been reports that he planned to resign after conducting the confidence motion.

When asked when he planned to quit, Chatterjee said “I will decide” but did not elaborate.

Looking tired after presiding over the marathon debate, Chatterjee said “I will now go home and sleep.”

He refused to comment on the outcome of the confidence motion proceedings. “It was my job to conduct the House and I did it,” Chatterjee said.

When referred to the CPI(M) politburo meeting on Wednesday, Speaker said he had got no invite as he was not its member.

CPI-M has made no secret of its unhappiness as he presided over the Lok Sabha and Politburo member Sitaram Yechury, on Monday night, hinted that a “decision” on any disciplinary action against him would be taken at an “appropriate time”.

Asked whether he will continue to be the Speaker in the future, he turned philosophical saying “who knows about tomorrow…whether I will alive or not.

The 79-year-old Marxist leader was at his humourous best when asked what will he do tonight. “I will have my food and catch some sleep.”

Chatterjee is locked in a stand-off with CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat as he continued to defy the party directive to quit his post and vote against the UPA Government’s confidence motion.