UPA backs Somnath, says no need for him to quit

SOME SUPPORT: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh met Somnath Chatterjee on Thursday morning.

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New Delhi: The Congress is firmly behind Speaker Somnath Chatterjee a day after the Communist Party of India-Marxist expelled him from the primary membership of the party.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh met Chatterjee at his home on Thursday morning with Congress President Sonia Gandhi also expected to visit him.

The other United Progressive Alliance (UPA) partners are also rallying behind the Speaker.

UPA partner and Lok Jan Shakti Party chief Ram Vilas Paswan, who is the Union Minister of Chemicals & Fertilizers and Steel, said that Somnath would not quit as Speaker.

On Wednesday, Lalu Prasad slammed the CPI-M for expelling Chatterjee.

The CPI-M expelled Chatterjee as he had not resigned ahead of the trust vote, as expected by the party.

The 79-year-old communist leader has indicated that he won't quit. He also made it clear that he would attend the Commonwealth Speakers' Conference from August 1-10 in Kuala Lumpur.