Quit and save party, Somnath tells Karat

New Delhi: Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee on Saturday advised the CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat to take responsibility of his party"s no-show in the Lok Sabha elections, and resign.

Chatterjee was expelled from the CPI(M) last year, when he refused to quit as the Lok Sabha speaker on the nuclear deal issue.

“I can't advise him because I am no longer in the party, but if his conscience permits he should consider (quitting)," Chatterjee told reporters here.

“We don't talk of resignations because Left parties say there is a joint leadership but someone has to take the responsibility," he added.

The Speaker termed CPI(M)"s performance as the worst ever in West Bengal"s history.

“In West Bengal such a serious situation for the party has never arisen before" he said, adding that in 1984 elections after Indira Gandhi's assassination, the situation was not so bad.

Holding Karat responsible for the recent dismal performance, he said, “The party is not stronger under him and his narcissistic leadership will not help."

Chatterjee also suggested the party leadership to introspect into its governance and the widening gap between people and party leaders.