Karat terms Chatterjee's expulsion unfortunate, says had no other option

New Delhi, July 24 (ANI): Terming the decision of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) to expel Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee as unfortunate, party General Secretary Prakash Karat today said that it had no other option but to take disciplinary action against the veteran Marxist.

Chatterjee's refusal to quit the post after a party directive prompted it to take such action, said Karat.

Addressing a press conference here, Karat said it was not a "happy thing" to do.

"The Central Committee decided that no member of the party should remain the Speaker of the Lok Sabha after the withdrawal of support. We were asked to communicate this to him. He did not agree...we had no option but to take action," he added. (ANI)