Asked about the CPM pressure on Chatterjee to relinquish his post as Speaker, Chakraborty, a six-time minister, initially declined comment on what he said was the party’s “internal matter.” But then said: “The Speaker’s case should not be viewed as a CPM party affair. One must remember that when Somnath Chatterjee was chosen as Speaker of Lok Sabha, he was the unanimous choice of all coalition partners. His candidature and position should not be viewed as one that is backed by only one party. So any decision regarding him should have unanimity.”

Chakraborty was candid on the other big issue that has been troubling the party rank and file — voting with the BJP against the UPA. Asked what was his assessment about the CPM decision to vote alongside the BJP during the floor test in Parliament, he said: “Voting with the BJP will harm our party’s interests.”

He is the first to air a view that is shared by many not just within the CPM but also Left Front partners — they are extremely uncomfortable with the idea of taking sides with the BJP to try and vote out the UPA. In West Bengal, the CPM popularity has been dented in areas with reasonable Muslim concentration. With Lok Sabha polls not too far away, there is worry that the party may have to pay a heavy price for being seen as taking sides with the BJP.

When this question of voting alongside BJP was put to CPM MP Anil Basu, he said the party will have to face this question and find answers, inside and outside Parliament. Basudev Barman, CPM MP from South 24 Parganas, did not give a direct answer: “Eight days are still left for the vote and we have no mandate till now.” Joachim Buxla, RSP MP from Jalpaiguri district, said: “I am still undecided.” Hitem Burman, Cooch Behar MP who represents another Left Front partner Forward Bloc, said: “Voting with BJP will certainly become an issue.”