New Delhi: The war between former Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee and CPM, his party of more than 40 years, is becoming increasingly bitter.
Days after his remarks to NDTV about advising the CPM not to snap ties with the UPA government, the CPM reacted sharply and now there is another response from Somnath.
"My attention has been drawn to a statement made by Shri Prakash Karat, General Secretary, CPM, in which he has surprisingly imputed certain alleged motives to me for upholding the sanctity of the Office of the Speaker, due to my supposed personal interest, which I strongly deny."
"I do not wish to make any further comment just now, which may sought to be construed to relate in any way to the ongoing election campaign. However, I reserve my right to deal with the same later at an appropriate time," the Speaker said.
In a strongly worded reaction earlier to Somnath's remarks, CPM General Secretary Prakash Karat had said, "By admitting his pro-Congress stand, Chatterjee has exposed the moral high ground he took that the Speaker is above party politics."
"His support to the Congress-led government and his continuance as the Speaker are inter-connected," he had said. (With PTI inputs)