CPI-M General Secretary Prakash Karat today said the return of former Lok Sabha speaker Somnath Chatterjee to the party was "not an issue" before the party. "Somnath's return to CPI-M is not an issue before the party at present," Karat replied cryptically to a newsman's query here.
After
the CPI (M) withdrew support to the UPA-I in mid-2008, Chatterjee ignored party's instructions and decided to stay on in his post during the confidence vote following which the government survived.
The CPI (M) then expelled him for violation of party discipline. Chatterjee had described his expulsion as the "saddest day of my life."