CPM expels RS member Ritabrata

Shubhadeep Choudhury

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Tribune News Service

Kolkata, September 15

The CPM today expelled Ritabrata Banerjee, Rajya Sabha member, from the party’s primary membership for indiscipline. Surya Kanta Misra, secretary, West Bengal unit, said the state secretariat’s September 13 recommendation that Banerjee be expelled had been accepted by the Politburo, the party’s topmost decision-making body.

Banerjee became member of the Rajya Sabha in 2014 when he was only 34 years old. His flashy lifestyle irked the party and he was issued a warning. Later, more serious charges were brought against him and he was suspended from the state committee for three months in June this year.

A three-member commission, headed by Banerjee’s archrival Mohammad Saleem, found him guilty.

Misra said Banerjee was given several opportunities “to rectify” himself, “but instead of changing his ways, he devoted himself to hurting the image of the party.” He mentioned Ritabrata’s interview with a Bengali TV channel on Monday. “Under the pretext of interview, he tried to belittle the party. This prompted the state secretariat to recommend his expulsion,” Misra explained.