NEW DELHI: CPM politburo member Brinda Karat has clarified that she had not said that she had faced neglect within the party and that the sentences in her book 'An Education for Rita' were distorted by the media.

'An Education for Rita' is a book written by Brinda Karat, who was known as Rita during the Emergency. The book is about her struggles from 1975 to 1985. A controversy had recently erupted over the remarks from the chapter 'Being a Woman in the Party' in the book. Brinda had written that she was assessed only as the wife of Prakash Karat, who was the secretary of the party's Delhi unit during 82-85. Certain reports claimed that Brinda had stated that the party had confused her identity as a full-time party worker and woman with being the wife of Prakash Karat.

Brinda said that some people were trying to insult the party by highlighting her book. "I had participated in many struggles on my way into the party. My personal life has never affected my party work. I have never faced neglect within the party for being a woman," she said.

With Sitaram Yechury about to complete his term as CPM general secretary, Brinda Karat is one of the possible candidates to become the next general secretary. It is also indicated that Brinda Karat made the move eyeing the post of general secretary in the next party congress.