After his party snapped ties with the UPA, Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee is now all set to step down from his post in the next few days.
The decision, top CPI(M) sources revealed on Wednesday, was taken at a meeting that Chatterjee had with CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat at Kolkata last Saturday. Karat, it is understood, was able to prevail upon Chatterjee that the resignation was a necessity- politically and morally – in the event of Left parties withdrawing support from the UPA government.
The move, additionally, also seems to have been made with an assessment that even one vote of the senior party member, who represents Bolpur constituency, would become important in the vote against the government.
Party circles, however, said that given that the Speaker’s post is a constitutional post, the CPI(M) will not ask the Speaker to step down. Talking to reporters at a press conference Karat earlier said Chatterjee would take his own decision in this regard. Sources hinted that the resignation would happen ??very soon??.
??We took our own time to pull down the government. Chatterjee will also make the next move very soon keeping all the political aspects in his mind,?? a senior CPI(M) leader told FE. He said though the Speaker’s post was not demanded by the CPI(M), the party do not want to face criticism over continuing in the post.
Sources indicated that the CPI(M) deliberated on the two options before them, that whether Chatterjee?s continuing as Speaker will help them or his resignation. Finally it was decided that if there is a vote of confidence in Lok Sabha, the CPI(M) would value Chatterjee as a “voter” rather than a ??speaker??. ??Every vote will be valuable. The Speaker is also of this opinion,?? a leader added.
Chatterjee is yet to make public stand. When asked about his next move, the Speaker told reporters: ??I know it. You do not have to tell me that. You are not doing justice to the institution of Speaker.??
79-year-old Chatterjee was elected to the Lok Sabha from Bolpur constituency in West Bengal. A former central committee member of the CPI(M), Chatterjee is considered as the ??best Parliamentarian?? from the current CPI(M) ranks.