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Somnath Chatterjee arrives for the special session on Parliament. Photo Courtesy: AFP.
Somnath Chatterjee arrives for the special session on Parliament. Photo Courtesy: AFP.

Somnath to stay on as Speaker?

Tue-Jul 22, 2008

New Delhi / Press Trust of India

Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee, who defied his party by not resigning, kept on the suspense on Tuesday as to whether he would quit saying he will "decide" when the time comes.

"Do you want me to resign?" Chatterjee retorted when asked by reporters whether he planned to quit today (July 22), after conducting the proceedings of the confidence motion as had been speculated.

Questioning the importance of the day, he asked "What is so special about July 22?" Earlier in the day, when asked the similar question he shot back: "Did I say month and year?"

Chatterjee has been under intense pressure from the CPI(M) to resign after the party withdrew support to the government and even listed him as among the party MPs who had withdrawn support.

The CPI(M) wanted him to toe the party line but he defied and remained in the post. Lately, there have been reports that he planned to resign after conducting the confidence motion.

When asked when he planned to quit, Chatterjee said "I will decide" but did not elaborate.

Looking tired after presiding over the marathon debate, Chatterjee said "I will now go home and sleep." He refused to comment on the outcome of the confidence motion proceedings.

"It was my job to conduct the House and I did it," Chatterjee said.

When referred to the CPI(M) politburo meeting on Wednesday, Speaker said he had got no invite as he was not its member.
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