New Delhi: The Left parties have reacted sharply to Somnath Chatterjee's remark dubbing their withdrawal of support to the government as a "mistake", with the CPM even alleging that his support to the Congress-led coalition and continuation as the Speaker were "inter-connected".
"By admitting his pro-Congress stand, Chatterjee has exposed the moral high ground he took that the Speaker is above party politics," CPM General Secretary Prakash Karat said in a strongly worded reaction.
"His support to the Congress-led government and his continuance as the Speaker are inter-connected," Karat, under whose leadership the CPM had asked Chatterjee to quit the high office last year, said.
Karat's comment came a day after Chatterjee said he had sent a note to the CPM asking them not to withdraw support but continue opposing the nuclear deal. Chatterjee was expelled from CPM after he refused to step down following Left's withdrawal of support.
Asserting that his party does not agree with him on the issue, CPI Secretary D Raja asked "why should the Speaker comment on the stand taken by political parties? His role became a flashpoint during the debate on the confidence vote. His position has been untenable and contradictory, exposing his pro-government politics," Raja said.