Jayalalithaa sacks MP Sasikala Pushpa for slapping DMK leader

Chennai/New Delhi: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on Monday sacked Rajya Sabha MP Sasikala Pushpa from AIADMK for ‘anti-party activities’ and ‘bringing disrepute to the party’.

In a brief statement, Jayalalithaa said that Pushpa was being expelled from all party posts, including primary membership, as she had acted in violation of the party principles and ethics. "Her behaviour has brought great disrepute to the party," she said.

DMK Rajya Sabha member Tiruchi Siva was slapped by AIADMK MP Sasikala Pushpa on Saturday at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi airport. While Sasikala maintained she was upset over Tiruchi Siva abusing her party leader and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, Siva denied having said anything disrespectful against the Tamil Nadu CM.

“There is no need for me to talk (about the CM) to security personnel and even if I had spoken (something), there was no need for (Ms Pushpa) to behave (this way),” Siva said.

Meanwhile, Rajya Sabha witnessed uproar as Sasikala Pushpa broke down and claimed a threat to her life. She also alleged she was under pressure to quit from the Upper House.

"There is a threat to my life. I am being pressured to resign from my Constitutional position. Sir, please help me," Sasikala Pushpa said and broke down.

Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman PJ Kurien asked her to write to Rajya Sabha Chairman and Vice President Hamid Ansari about the alleged threat and assured her the House's support.

Explaining her violent outburst, Pushpa had on Saturday told Deccan Chronicle that she was justifiably angry because Siva criticised her party leader more than once before the CISF personnel at Terminal 3 of the New Delhi Airport.

“Once he saw me, he started criticising Amma and the government more. Since I could not stomach someone criticising my leader, I slapped him,” Pushpa had said.

Explaining his side of the story, the DMK MP said the incident took place when he was coming out of the boarding area after he cancelled his plans to travel to Chennai.

“I cancelled my ticket and was exiting the airport. When I was at the exit scan area, she (Sasikala Pushpa) was at the entry scan area. I had come 10 feet away from the exit scan area and that is when she dragged me by my shirt from my back. When security personnel intervened, she asked why the 'importance' given to me was not accorded to her,” he said.

Asked what his response was after the incident, he said: “Since I was embarrassed, I left the area and I did not even enter into an argument since she was a woman and I did not want to drag this,” he said.

To a question about why he has not filed any complaint with the police, the MP said he would take a call after discussing the issue with the party high command.