Kolkata Sep 15 (IANS) The CPI-M on Friday formally announced the expulsion of party MP Ritabrata Banerjee for "serious breach" of party discipline and anti-party activities.
"The CPI-M s West Bengal State Secretariat on September 13 had decided expulsion of Ritabrata Banerjee from his primary membership on charge of serious breach of party discipline and also for anti-party activities " Communist Party of India-Marxist State Secretary Surjya Kant Misra said in a statement on Friday.
The move came after Banerjee in an interview with a television channel took a dig at the party leadership and accused it of being anti-Bengali.
"Banerjee tried to malign the party in the recent television interview. The State Secretariat took the decision of expulsion on the basis of that " the statement said adding that the MP was asked several times to correct himself but he instead continued to slander the party s image.
Rajya Sabha member Banerjee has courted controversy in the past. He was suspended by the party on June 2 for three months over his lavish lifestyle after he was accused of spending Rs 69.25 lakh on travel expenses in a year.
Mishra said the three-member commission which was formed to look into the allegations found basis in the charges.
The CPI-M West Bengal State Committee had in August recommended punitive action against Banerjee over lifestyle-related allegations.
The party had in February issued a "public warning" to Banerjee for threatening a party supporter who had raised questions on the social media about the source of funds of the young leader s expensive watch and pen.
--IANS
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