Kolkata: Despite his expulsion from CPM three years ago, former Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee still has a soft corner for the party and wished the Left Front success in the coming West Bengal assembly polls.
"There is still no alternative to the Left Front led by CPM and it is my firm opinion," Chatterjee told PTI when contacted at his residence at Santiniketan.
Asked to comment on his good wishes for the party that expelled him for anti-party activities in 2008, the octogenarian leader said "I have nothing to speak against the party. One or two were responsible for my expulsion. But I still wish the party well."
Without naming Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee, Chatterjee said "I remember such a slogan for change was raised in 2006 and a ministry too was nearly finalised (by her) then everyone knows what happened in that election."
Criticising the candidate list of TMC, Chatterjee said he was amazed to find contestants who have nolink with the masses. "These people were never in politics but are anxious to get votes."
However, the people of West Bengal are politically conscious and will cast votes accordingly, the Marxist leader said. Chatterjee, known to be close to the late Marxist leader Jyoti Basu, said his absence was being felt deeply this time. "His valuable advice helped the party in the past elections."
To a question, he hoped that the people would vote fearlessly and peacefully. Chatterjee would come to Kolkata soon to cast his vote. He is a voter of the Rashbehari constituency in the city.
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