Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee [Images] has rebuffed Communist Party of India-Marxist General Secretary Prakash Karat's [Images] proposal, urging him to resign from his post and vote along with the party during the confidence vote.

An Alliance in Crisis

Hours before he presides over the confidence motion moved by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh [Images], Chatterjee said the Speaker should not be made a part of the politics of trust vote as he is elected with the support of all parties.

The Speaker is meeting all floor managers at 1000 hours on Monday to lay the ground rules for the proceedings in the House.

CPI-M had on Sunday night asked Chatterjee to step down from the office before the confidence vote in the Lok Sabha.

Left sources said the message to this effect was conveyed to Chatterjee on Sunday night through an unnamed emissary.

Sources close to the Speaker said he was not aware of any communication in this regard and the only statement he was aware of was what Karat had stated two days ago -- that he should take his own decision.

Additional Reportage: PTI