Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Thursday went to meet Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee following the situation arising out of Chatterjee's expulsion from the Communist Party of India (Marxist). While it is not yet clear what was discussed between the two leaders, the UPA has made no secret of the fact that for them the expulsion does not affect Chatterjee's continuation in the post of Speaker. Railway minister Lalu Prasad Yadav had already said that Somnath Chatterjee could remain Speaker with support of the treasury benches. To remove a sitting Speaker, the Lok Sabha needs to pass a no confidence motion sponsored by 50 members and passed by the House. The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) Wednesday unanimously decided to expel Somnath Chatterjee from the membership of the party with immediate effect. This action has been taken under Article XIX, clause 13 of the Party Constitution for seriously compromising the position of the Party, said a statement issued here by the Polit Bureau of CPI-M. Somnath can continue as Lok Sabha Speaker as per the 10th Schedule of the Constitution despite being expelled from his party. He can only be removed by a notice initiated by 100 members of the Lok Sabha. __
