Kolkata, March 27 (IANS) The CPI-M Thursday expelled dissident leader Laxman Seth, its frontman in the Nandigram movement, after he attacked former chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and called the party "autocratic". Seth said he had already expressed his desire not to stay in the party.
"At a time the state committee has taken the initiative to discipline and better the party organisation in East Midnapore district, a member of the district committee and district secretariat Lakshman Seth has got involved in serous anti-party activity. He is also trying to lower the image of the party publicly.
"As per the decision of the state secretariat, he has been expelled from the party under the clause 19/13 of the party constitution," a Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) statement said.
Seth's removal from the party comes within a month after another party rebel - veteran legislator Abdur Rezzak Mollah - was expelled Feb 26 also for "serious anti-party activities".
Incidentally, Seth was present at an event when Mollah, prior to his expulsion, had launched pro-Dalit and minority outfit "Social Justice Forum" which he claimed will field candidates in the West Bengal assembly polls in 2016.
Seth, who Wednesday said he wanted to end his relations with the party by not renewing his membership which lapses March 31, said after his expulsion: "I have already given a letter last month saying I don't wish to continue in the party. The party leadership's action amounts to cutting a corpse with an axe."
Hours earlier, Seth had said that Bhattacharjee should have stepped down as chief minister after the police firing in 2007 which led to 14 deaths.
He also commented that the then party-led Left Front government had lost all authority after the firing and "it seemed as if the LF has lost power".
Accusing the party of becoming "autocratic", he alleged that a handful of people were running the CPI-M.
A day earlier, Seth had charged the party leadership with hatching a conspiracy to expel him, and praised West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for her guts and maturity as a political administrator.
Lashing out at the CPI-M leadership, Seth said: "It only hatched conspiracies to throw me out."
Seth spent 118 days in police custody after the Banerjee government cracked down on him for allegedly plotting violent incidents in Nandigram in 2007. He is now out on bail.
The former MP's ire was directed at his party for removing him from the state committee and forming a commission to probe graft charges concerning an NGO with which he was involved.
"My party did not stand by me during my crisis, when the Mamata Banerjee government wrecked vengeance on me," he had said.
A two-member panel constituted to inquire into corruption and anti-party activities against Seth was recently heckled by his loyalists in East Midnapore.
Seth was under the scanner following the sale of a medical and a dental college in Haldia to a private business group for a whopping amount.
IND vs AUS: When Kohli got a lease of life, Ashwin was surrounded by superstition, he stood in one place throughout the match, and said this
India defeated Australia by six wickets in their first match of the World Cup 2023. With this victory, Rohit Sharma's team has made a winning start. However, after Australia was bundled out for 199,
President, Prime Minister Oli could not get a majority to form a new government in Nepal
After losing the trust of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, the President of Nepal, Vidya Devi Bhandari, has given three days to call political parties to form a new majority government and till 9 pm on
Why it is difficult to break Putin's security circle
Nothing happens immediately in the life of Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Russian President's every move is closely monitored by hundreds of bodyguards, who stay with him 24 hours a day.
Ratan Tata Birthday: 'Tata's Ratan' took revenge for Ford Chairman's insult after nine years, today is his 86th birthday.
Today i.e. 28th December is the 86th birthday of Indian industrialist and honorary chairman of Tata Sons Ratan Tata. Apart from being a renowned businessman, Ratan Tata has also been a motivational
Vaishno Devi Yatra: A big gift for devotees before Navratri, Maa Vaishno Devi Yatra will start from this day
The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Yatra, which was suspended for the last 17 days, is now going to start again. After being temporarily suspended due to bad weather and necessary maintenance of the route
Maharashtra bans but Goa 'beefs up'
Panaji, March 23 (IANS) Carmen Athaide, 49, slices a few slivers of beef into a broth that's just beginning to simmer on her old kitchen stove. As the soup comes to a boil, the warm, wholesome
New SmartPhone Launch: Many powerful phones will knock in the Indian market by the end of November, will have amazing features
New SmartPhone Launch: If you are looking for a good smartphone then you should wait for a few days. In fact, at the end of November, many companies are preparing to launch their new model in the
President, PM Greet Nation on Holi
New Delhi, March 5 (IANS) President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday greeted the nation on the eve of Holi."On the joyous occasion of Holi, I convey warm greetings and
Noel Tata: Who is Noel Tata? Who can take over the reins of the Tata Group after Ratan Tata?
The country's leading industrialist Ratan Tata passed away on Wednesday night. After Ratan Tata's death, the question is being raised who from the Tata family can now take over the reins of the Tata
3 models of the Redmi Note 9 series will be launched with these features, it will compete
In the festive season, Chinese company Xiaomi, which has created a market with its sale, is going ahead with its popular Redmi 9 series. The company will launch three more new smartphones in the
