New Delhi, April 16: When the Left Front was at its peak in 2008, Somnath Chatterjee was expelled from the CPM. But now when the party is under severe pressure ahead of the crucial West Bengal assembly polls, the state leadership of the party is looking towards the communist patriarch as a campaign saviour.
Old habits die hard. For Chatterjee, Left is still the right path. Thus, when the veteran was approached by his former party colleague and state housing minister Gautam Deb, he readily agreed to participate in a campaign trail for him in Dum Dum on April 24.
It is almost like a homecoming for the octogenarian communist stalwart in the twilight of his political career.
“ I have agreed to participate in a campaign for Gautam Deb as he requested me to come to his assembly segment to attend an election rally. If I am able to attend the rally, I will go,” Chatterjee told on Friday over phone. On February 23, Chatterjee fell ill and was taken to Kolkata for treatment. He came back to his Santiniketan residence a few weeks ago.
He said: “ Gautam is like a younger brother to me. I have agreed to his request. How can I say no to him if I am fit enough to attend the rally?” Chatterjee, the then Lok Sabha Speaker, was expelled from the party in July 2008 for refusing to abide by the party line on the noconfidence motion against the UPA- I government.
“ I never came out of the CPM. I did not even resign. It was just a decision by a section of people in my party that I was not suitable. And accordingly they expelled me. But it does not imply that I have quit the party,” he said.
Speculations are rife whether this will pave the way for Chatterjee’s comeback to the Left.
CPM politburo member Sitaram Yechury clarified that the party has no problem with Chatterjee campaigning for a party candidate. “ We are appealing to all sections of the masses to vote for us, to support us, and Somnath Chatterjee is also a part of the masses.” Chatterjee said if a proposal comes from the party leadership, he will consider it.
“ Since there is no such proposal for now, I don’t have anything to say.”
–Agencies