Calcutta, April 17: Former Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee today said he has agreed to address a campaign meeting for state housing minister Gautam Deb on April 24 following a request from him.

“When Gautam requested me to address a campaign meeting for him, I told him that I would do so provided my health permits. I may address the proposed meeting on April 24. But I don’t know as to why the media is making it an issue,” Chatterjee told The Telegraph, this afternoon.

However, hours ago, state CPM secretary Biman Bose had told a media conference at the Alimuddin Street headquarters that Chatterjee himself expressed his desire to address a meeting for Deb. “He (Chatterjee) himself wanted to address a campaign meeting,” said Bose.