‘Elections are coming near and that is why you are becoming visible. I hope the country is watching your performance. My performance does not matter as I am not a candidate anymore.’ This was how Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee had a dig at the members of his former party, the CPM, as he suggested that the MPs were more enthusiastic to participate in discussions in Parliament nowadays because general elections are approaching.His observation came when the Left members, especially from Kerala, were vociferously demanding that their names be associated with an issue concerning the extra-departmental employees of the Postal Department."This is not the way. If you want to be visible, you should contribute something positive. I am not a candidate anymore, so it does not matter to me," said Chatterjee to members of CPM, from which he was expelled in July after he refused to resign from the post at the behest of the party.”When some members continued with their demands, the Speaker expressed his anguish, saying ‘there is nothing called propriety, decency and respect for the Chair. I hope the country is watching your performance. My performance does not matter as I am not a candidate anymore.’"You are sufficiently senior and very experienced. This is not the way. I consider you all my brothers," he said.
