House can only remove Somnath: Chakrapani

Hyderabad, Jul 26: Supporting the stand taken by Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee on continuing in his post, Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council Chairman A Chakrapani on Saturday, July 26 said, Mr Chatterjee was not bound to resign from his post Constitutionally, legally or on moral grounds even after being expelled from the party.

Addressing a press conference here, Mr Chakrapani said, ''nobody can remove him from his post except the House. There is a process to remove the Speaker from the Chair. As a Speaker, he is neither supporting the ruling party nor the opposition parties.'' ''Expulsion from the party to which he originally belonged has got nothing to do with the Constitutional office which he is holding,'' he said.

''The Speaker has nothing to do with his personal views or party decision. No whip will apply to presiding officer and he acts independently in the House.'' he pointed out.

UNI