'Speaker Somnath Chatterjee' likely to walk out

New Delhi, Jul 2: Once it pulls off from UPA over the India-US civil nuclear deal, the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) will ask Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee, a party MP, to quit his post, say party insiders.

The CPI-M has decided that it along with three other Left parties will ask the Congress-led government to clarify its final position on the contentious deal on Friday, June 4. Once they get a specific reply - the Communists believe that the government has decided to go ahead with the nuclear pact - they would go to President Pratiha Patil to inform her of their withdrawal of support.

Fifty nine MPs of the CPI (M)-led Left parties prop up the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government. Leaders of the four Left parties are meeting on Friday.

Chatterjee became the Speaker of the Lok Sabha as a nominee of the supporting party. The CPI-M feels that once the support is withdrawn, it will be inappropriate for Chatterjee to continue.

The CPI (M)'s decision to pull out the Speaker is expected to put the government in an immediate crisis.

OneIndia News