In a major development that could have some ramification in left politics in Bengal as well as Delhi expelled Rajya Sabha MP of the CPI(M) Ritabrata Banerjee on Wednesday said he had paid the price of raising his voice against Prakash Karat, his wife Brinda Karat and their agent in Bengal Md Salim, all Politburo members who had literally hijacked the party for their own vested interests.
Banerjee, who literally broke down after hearing the news of his expulsion, said he would make a statement on Thursday after getting over the initial jolt “because I feel like having lost my home”.
After all I am associated with the party for the past 21 years since my school days.”
The MP who was suspended from the party following complaints of leading a lavish lifestyle — and even trying to victimize a lower rung worker who raised this issue — had exploded against the Karat lobby in a televised interview on Monday when he said the Karat couple and their agent in Bengal Salim were working against Bengal unit of the party. Banerjee had raised questions on why “Bengal line” was ignored in the Capital when “all your luxuries are paid for by the levy you raise from this State.” He also complained about the way Sitaram Yechury was “humiliated and stopped from getting reelected to Rajya Sabha.”
On why he raised the issue now he said “someone had to bell the cat and I did it.” On whether he had his options open he said he would speak about things later on.