Defending the decision to expel Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee from the party, CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat on Thursday said they did not have any other option but to take disciplinary action against the veteran Marxist as he refused to quit the post after a party directive.
Addressing a press conference here, Karat said it was "unfortunate" for them to take disciplinary action against the veteran Marxist leader and it was not a "happy thing" to do.
"The Central Committee decided that no member of the party should remain the Speaker of Lok Sabha after the withdrawal of support. We were asked to communicate this to him. He did not agree. We had no options but to expel Somnath Chatterjee. It was unfortunate that we had to take disciplinary action (against him) and it was not a happy thing," says CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat.