Calcutta, Sept. 15: The CPM politburo today approved the Bengal state secretariat's recommendation to expel MP Ritabrata Banerjee from primary membership for his "anti-party activities".

Although the state secretariat's recommendation has to be ratified by the central committee, the politburo can also give the green light for the Rajya Sabha member's ouster as per the rules of the CPM.

However, the central committee will have to approve the politburo's decision to make Banerjee's expulsion final. CPM insiders said the central committee, which is slated to meet in the middle of October, would in all likelihood ratify the decision of the politburo.

CPM state secretary and politburo member Surjya Kanta Mishra officially announced Banerjee's expulsion from primary membership under section 19 (13) of the party's constitution through a press statement.

Banerjee's activities have been under the scanner of the CPM since February. The expulsion, sources said, was triggered by his explosive interview to ABP Ananda, where he lambasted a 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.

"He (Banerjee) was promising at one point of time ... But we had lost hope on him for sometime and a lot of people knew it (expulsion) was coming," said a veteran CPM leader.

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

In his statement, Mishra hinted that there had been complaints against Banerjee before also, suggesting the party had given the MP many opportunities to mend his ways.

In an interview with an English news channel yesterday, Banerjee repeated his attacks on Salim and the Karats, besides claiming he was targeted by the CPM for saying "Jai Hind".

Attempts to elicit a response from the Rajya Sabha member to the politburo's decision have failed.#