Somnath writes to party brass, slams Karat line

NEW DELHI: The war of nerves continues between CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat and Somnath Chatterjee on the issue of the latter remaining Lok Sabha speaker. A defiant Chatterjee addressed a note to CPI(M) politburo members on Monday questioning the wisdom of the party voting with the BJP to oust the government in the absence of any clearcut post-poll option.

Sources said Chatterjee requested the politburo members to destroy the note after they read it.

Senior CPI(M) leader Benoy Konar said the “Central Committee meeting here on July 19 and 20 will discuss the questions raised by Chatterjee and a final view on the Speaker’s issue will be taken. Chatterjee has to abide by that decision.”

The Speaker’s office neither confirmed nor denied his writing to the party. An official in the Speaker’s office said: “we are not privy to any such note. But Chatterjee’s views on the CPI(M) voting with the BJP is known.”

Karat flatly denied receiving any such letter. Karat said “we are not in the habit of writing letters.” The party had taken a stand and it was for the Speaker to decide, he added.   Turn to p10

Reports said Karat faxed the  note to West Bengal chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, who along with CPI(M) state secretary Biman Bose was to discuss it with party veteran Jyoti Basu. Chatterjee had met Basu last Sunday in Kolkata, and was reportedly told to toe the party line.

 Earlier, CPI(M) politburo member Sitaram Yechury had called on the Speaker to persuade him to quit before the trust vote, but Chatterjee expressed his ire at the way Karat was trying to foreclose his options.

Keeping the party and the political class guessing as to when he will resign as Speaker, Chatterjee appears to be in a mood to give some anxious moments to Karat who has been proactive in the opposition bid to topple the UPA government.

Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party general secretary Amar Singh called on Chatterjee and offered all support. Singh later said Chatterjee was occupying a constitutional post and should continue. He also had talks with external affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee on Monday.

Senior CPI(M) leader and West Bengal Sports Minister Subhas Chakraborty, a protégé of Jyoti Basu, has also come out in support of Chatterjee. He has written to Karat saying that it would not be correct to vote against the Congress-led government along with the BJP during the July 22 trust vote.

The Speaker is understood to be even toying with the idea of resigning from the Lok Sabha as well if he is treated shabbily by the party.

Sources said the Speaker is miffed with Karat for three reasons: First withdrawing support to the UPA government without a proper study of the post-poll scenario, appending his name in the list of MPs submitted to the President (in the withdrawal of support letter), and on Monday issuing a statement wherein the Speaker was deliberately referred to as “comrade” while he was not elected Speaker as a CPI(M) nominee, but that of all parties.   

Karat’s statement on Monday said: “A lot of speculation is going on in the media regarding the position of the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Comrade Somnath Chatterjee.  I have already stated that any decision will be taken by the Speaker himself.” Sources in the Speaker’s office said the general secretary could have avoided using such appellation as “comrade” which amounts to a virtual directive to him to step down and act like any other party member.