Shortly after being expelled from the party, Chatterjee on July 23, 2008 shot off a letter to the state government, saying he was resigning from the chairmanship of the Sriniketan-Santiniketan Development Authority (SSDA), which comes under the urban development department.

However, since then, the ministry has been sitting on the letter and till date, it has not been accepted. “I am not in a hurry. Work in the SSDA has not stopped. Wait and see,” said Ashok Bhattacharjee, the urban development minister.

Bhattacharjee is not alone treading with caution as far as Chatterjee is concerned. While it is a practice in the party not to mingle with an expelled leader, party sources said in this case, it is different as they do not want to humiliate someone like “Somnathda”.

“It seems his case is different. He was regularly invited to programmes sponsored by the government or party groups. Without green light from party brass at Alimuddin Street, it is impossible for any one to clamour for Chatterjee’s return,” said a senior CPM leader.