Kerala CM justifies Somnath's expulsion

Thiruvananthapuram, Jul 23 (UNI) Kerala Chief Minister and Polit Bureau member V S Achuthanandan today justified the expulsion of Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee from the CPI(M) and said, ''It is a cent per cent correct stand by the party.'' Replying to questions from reporters after a weekly Cabinet briefing, he said, ''It is a naked violation of the party discipline by him.'' Mr Achuthanandan said Mr Chatterjee was obliged to obey the party decision to oppose the confidence motion, as he was appointed as Speaker of the Lok Sabha by the Left parties, which supported the government from outside.

Since Mr Chatterjee was a party member and had held important positions like Member of Parliament, Central Committee Member and Leader of the Opposition, there was no need to tell him about the party's stand, he said.

Mr Achuthanandan said the victory of the Congress was a ''temporary achievement'' and in coming days, the clear picture of those who supported the Congress would come out.

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