CPI(M) rules out return of Somnath in party

CPI(M) on Thursday ruled out return of Lok Sabha speaker Somnath Chatterjee into the party fold, saying "the reason for which he was expelled still exists."

"The trust vote was a crucial time when he defied the party and supported Congress so, there is no reason of taking him back," CPI(M) politburo member MK Pandhe told reporters here.

"Chatterjee has not accepted the fault he committed during the trust vote," he said when asked what would be the party's stand in the light of Chatterjee's reported statement that he would be happy if he is taken back into the party.

On the issue of supporting Congress, Pandhe said the party has not taken any decision. Meanwhile, party chief Prakash Karat has dismissed the exit-poll results which were aired across TV channels yesterday, saying he does not believe in them.