Left parties' existence is at stake, feels Somnath Chatterjee

Commenting on the poor performance of the Left parties in the Lok Sabha elections, former Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee on Friday said that today the existence of the Left parties are at stake, and added that there is hardly any presence of the Left in the Parliament.

"Today the position is become such that the party's very own existence is at stake. It means that the politics of Left parties has almost become irrelevant in this country. Today, in the parliament there is hardly any presence of the Left parties," said Chatterjee.

On being asked whether Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI-M) general secretary Prakash Karat should resign taking moral responsibility for the party's poor showing, Chatterjee said, "It is not a question of any individual but he is the general secretary of the party, which has faced debacle after debacle in the last three elections."

He said there is need for some assessment and self introspection within the party, and added that the time has come for a change in guard of the party.

"On the plea of collective decision, if he (Karat) refuses to resign then it would mean perpetuation of present situation. He should set an example by quitting and giving an opportunity to young guns and comrades to take up the cause of the party and of the working class," he added.