Calcutta, Sept. 13: The Bengal state secretariat of the CPM today recommended the expulsion of Rajya Sabha member Ritabrata Banerjee for "anti-party activities", 36 hours after he had gone on TV criticising the organisation and leaders.

"Although few members of the secretariat had verbally opposed the decision to oust Ritabrata Banerjee, none gave it in writing. So, technically, it was a unanimous decision," a CPM insider said.

The expulsion, he said, will have to be ratified by the central committee which is slated to meet in the middle of October. "Alternatively, the politburo can take a decision on the recommendation to sack the MP in the interim and get it ratified by the central committee later," said the insider.

A state secretariat member said: "The MP has been deliberately trying to embarrass the party in public in a desperate bid to cover up his own wayward ways that have become an open secret."

The 38-year-old first-time MP has his Rajya Sabha term till 2020.

In an interview aired by ABP Ananda on Monday evening, Banerjee had launched a broadside against the CPM. Among other things, he lambasted the probe commission, comprising politburo member Mohammad Salim, set up by the party to look into complaints against him. Banerjee also made critical comments on politburo members Prakash and Brinda Karats before adding that Salim had made it to the highest decision making body only because of his religion.

Reacting to the news of his expulsion, Banerjee said his "heart bled" at the prospect of severing a 21-year relationship with the CPM.

"I decided to bell the cat and I did it.... I knew that it (expulsion) was coming. I said nothing against the party. My voice was raised against a particular coterie, comprising the likes of Prakash Karat, Brinda Karat, Mohammad Salim," Banerjee told The Telegraph.

The commission comprising Salim was set up in June to probe scores of complaints of alleged misconduct against Banerjee.

"If I say that my heart is not bleeding, it would be a blatant lie.... This fight will continue. This is a war and the war is on," he added.

According to a CPM central committee member, speculations are rife in the corridors of power in New Delhi that he would soon join the BJP. Banerjee, however, refused to divulge his plans. "I will share it with you at an appropriate time," he said.

Banerjee is a state committee member whose suspension expired on September 2.#