India-CPM-Somnath
Somnath Chatterjee, a veteran leader of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI-M) was expelled from the party Wednesday, following his defiance to continue as Lok Sabha speaker and preside over the trust vote in Parliament.

The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has unanimously decided to expel Somnath Chatterjee from the membership of the party with immediate effect.

This action has been taken under Article XIX, clause 13 of the Party Constitution for seriously compromising the position of the Party, said a statement issued here by the Polit Bureau of CPI-M.

Somnath can continue as Lok Sabha Speaker as per the 10th Schedule of the Constitution despite being expelled from his party.

He can only be removed by a notice initiated by 100 members of the Lok Sabha and then it has to be ratified by two-thirds majority present and voting.

Somnath on his part was very angry that the party included his name in the list of Left MPs, who had withdrawn support to the UPA government over Indo-US nuclear issue on July 9, 2008.

His contention was that as long as he is the speaker, he should be kept above party politics.