Silent Somnath brings relief to CPM

Did he, didn’t he? Lok Sabha speaker Somnath Chatterjee’s alleged remarks against CPI(M) leadership had all the ingredients to disturb the fragile peace between the party and its ousted comrade of over 40 years. Somnath’s denial kept the peace.

Expelled CPI(M) members do not usually have a happy time, as Saifuddin Choudhary, once the rising star of Left politics, realised when he was vilified by former colleagues after removal from the party.

Thus far, Somnath has managed to avoid that fate and in fact, played host to CPI(M) MPs on February 26, the last day of the 14th Lok Sabha, where he reportedly assured them that he will vote for the party.  

The speed with which he denied “his” remarks helped cool down matters. “Who else can I vote for?” he is reported to have said, stressing that he was a Marxist even outside the CPI(M).

That assurance must have come as a relief to the party which does not want a disgruntled former comrade to rain on its already wet parade.

“The fact is that unlike Choudhary, who set up the Party for Democratic Socialism in 2001 to take on the CPI(M), Somnath has announced retirement from electoral politics and has been circumspect,” a senior CPI(M) MP said.

There have been attempts by some leaders in West Bengal to bring him back, but neither has Somnath approached the party, nor has Karat given any indications of a thaw.