Why don't you quit, Somnath asks Karat

Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee, who was expelled from CPI(M) for refusing to quit on the nuclear deal issue, today suggested that party general secretary Prakash Karat should consider quitting the post taking responsibility for the party's dismal showing in the elections.

"I can't advise him because I am no longer in the party, but if his conscience permits he should consider," he told reporters when asked whether Karat should resign owning responsibility for the party's bad performance.

"We don't talk of resignations because Left parties say there is a joint leadership but someone has to take the responsibility," he said.

"In West Bengal such a serious situation for the party has never arisen before" he said, adding that in 1984 elections after Indira Gandhi's assassination, the situation was not so bad.

To repeated questions on whether Karat should quit, he said, "The party is not stronger under him" and added that "narcissistic leadership will not help".

Chatterjee also suggested the party leadership to introspect into its governance and the widening gap between people and party leaders.