Somnath Chatterjee | Photo Credit: ANI

Kolkata: In a major embarrassment for the Left, the son of former Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee, who passed away at a Kolkata hospital on Monday morning, refused to take his father’s mortal remains to the office of Communist Party of India (Marxist). Chatterjee’s son, Pratap, also refused to put the party flag near his mortal remains, as per sources.

Pratap Chatterjee also said that veteran party leader Biman Bose would not be allowed in his house to pay last tributes to Chatterjee, who was associated with CPI (M) for a majority of his life until he was expelled by the party in 2008 for not toeing the party diktat. Apparently, party leader Sitaram Yechury had tried to pacify Pratap but in vain. Sources said that Biman Bose had to eventually leave the house. Biman Bose, among those who expelled Somnath Chatterjee from CPM, remembers a friend – Exclusive Interview

Shockingly, when Times Now confronted Biman Bose said that Chatterjee’s son had “lost his sanity” at this hour of grief. He added that there was no misunderstanding between Chatterjee’s family and him. In a rather controversial statement, Bose claimed that Somnath had never liked his son much and thus his response did not “matter much.” As per ANI, Bose said, "I don't mind his behaviour. He is completely broken by the loss of his father. He was actually not liked by his father also."

I don't mind his behaviour. He is completely broken by the loss of his father. He was actually not liked by his father also: Biman Bose, former CPM state chief on reports that he was asked by #SomnathChatterjee's son to leave when he went to pay his tribute. #WestBengal pic.twitter.com/Nhcvu6JzmB — ANI (@ANI) August 13, 2018

The CPI(M) had expelled Chatterjee from the party in 2008 after he refused to toe the party line and resign as the Lok Sabha speaker, following the party’s decision to withdraw support from then UPA-1 government. The CPI(M) took the decision to withdraw support from the then government over the Indo-US nuclear deal.

Chatterjee, an eminent parliamentarian and prominent Left leader, passed away shortly after 8 am on Monday after suffering a massive cardiac arrest. He had been admitted to a private hospital in Kolkata where he was being treated for kidney-ailment and other age related issues. He had turned 89 in July.

(Former Lok Sabha speaker was given 21-gun salute at West Bengal assembly. Pic credit: ANI)

His mortal remains were taken to Calcutta High Court from the hospital, where they were kept till around 1:15 am. Following this, his body was taken to the State Assembly where he was accorded a 21-gun salute, which is the highest state honour. After that, his body was taken to his house at Raja Basant Roy Road at 2:15 pm, where it was kept till 6 pm. The mortal remains of the former Lok Sabha Speaker were donated to the SSKM hospital, later in the evening.

Several leaders cutting across party lines, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress President Rahul Gandhi, condoled the demise of the veteran leader. Somnath Chatterjee is survived by his wife, son and a daughter.