Speaker left out of CPI-M's whip

Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee has been left out of the whip issued by CPI-M to its MPs to vote against the government in the trust vote on July 22.

The exclusion of Chatterjee is significant as the CPI(M) has so far been maintaining that he should toe the line of the party, which has decided to vote against the government.

A three-line whip was issued to 41 CPI(M) MPs asking them to reach the national capital on July 20 and be present in Lok Sabha on the next two days besides voting against the government.