Kerala CPM welcomes Somnath's expulsion

Malappuram, July 23 (UNI) The CPI(M) in kerala today welcomed the expulsion of Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee from the party for seriously compromising the party line.

Describing Mr Chatterjee as a ''betrayer,'' CPI(M) state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan said he deserved the punishment for violating party discipline.

''A Communist is bound to obey party discipline'' regardless of the position he held, Mr Vijayan told reporters here reacting to the Polit Bureau's decision to expel Mr Chatterjee for continuing as Speaker defying party directives.

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