Ex-Speaker Somnath Chatterjee ill, admitted to Kolkata nursing home

, Feb 17: Former Lok Sabha Speaker

was admitted to the Intensive Treatment Unit of a nursing home in southern Kolkata on Sunday. He was reportedly suffering from breathlessness and lung infection.

A special medical team set up for the veteran leader said that he has been suffering from shortage of oxygen. His condition was, however, stable, said sources in the nursing home.

Chatterjee was the LS Speaker between 2004 and 2009

Chatterjee, 85, had served as the Speaker in the Lower House of the Parliament between 2004 and 2009, when the UPA I government was in office. He was also a member of the CPI(M). In 2008, when the party decided to withdraw support from the UPA government of Manmohan Singh, Chatterjee decided not to follow the party's instruction and decided to carry out his duty as the Speaker. He was expelled as a result. He decided to quit politics and did not contest the 2009 Lok Sabha election.

OneIndia News