Chennai: The suspension of two state-level functionaries from the Tamil Nadu BJP in a short span of three days after an audio leak, has put the saffron party on the defensive. After the audio, in which Surya Siva is abusing and threatening Daisy Saran, had gone viral on social media, the party leadership in the state was left with no other option. But, even before it could act, more blood had spilled over to the streets.
The axe fell on Gayatri Raghuram, heading the party state unit's Tamil Development Wing (Other States and Overseas) on Thursday. Besides other confrontations with the leadership, she was smarting under her exclusion from the ongoing Kashi Tamil Sangamam. The next to face the wrath was Siva, on the same day
The audio conversation takes place between Siva and Daisy early in the morning at around 6.20 am more than a fortnight ago. It is the height of vulgarity and sexual violence. While Gayatri was suspended, Annamalai directed Siva to keep off from party work for a week till the one-man inquiry committee headed by party vice-president Kanaga Sabapathy submitted its report.
And, what triggered the present turbulence was the series of tweets by Gayatri extending solidarity to Daisy and targeting party state president K Annamalai, questioning why he had not acted against Siva though presented with the audio much earlier before it found its way to the media.
Claiming that she had been in the party for long, the actor also vented her anger at being sidelined and alleged that the BJP in the state has gone to a cabal from Western Tamil Nadu. The last is clearly an innuendo at Annamalai and his OBC background, seen by many analysts as the war of attrition between a section of Brahmins and OBCs in the party.
Reacting to her suspension, Gayatri said in a tweet: “He always wanted me out. I will come back stronger.” Asked whom she was referring to, her response was “I leave it to your guess”. But, this is not the first time that she has crossed swords with the state leadership. Earlier, when Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan, now governor of Telangana, was the state president, the actor had belittled her similarly.
Some in the party had accused her of being a tool in the hands of the DMK and cited her meeting Chief Minister MK Stalin's son-in-law, Sabareesan, at a party. On the other hand, Siva and Daisy, who appeared before the inquiry panel at Tirupur on Friday, made peace.
“Together, we have agreed to work in peace. There was no compulsion from any quarter and it was purely our own decision. We discussed between ourselves and resolved all the issues. Till now, we were like a family and our relationship was that of a sister and brother. It will continue to be so,” they jointly told the media. This invited ridicule from actor Kasthuri who had jumped in support of Daisy and demanded action against Siva. Social media was awash with derisive memes.
Annamalai, in a statement suspending Siva said “Though the two had amicably resolved the issue, the party cannot accept abuse of women. As state president, I cannot accept it and I have to take hard decisions.” On Siva, he further said, “He can continue to work for the party as a cadre. If there is a positive change in his conduct and if he gains my confidence, responsibility will come home.”
The washing of dirty linen in public has painted the saffron party in poor light and the ruling DMK has grabbed it with glee corner Annamalai, puncturing the BJP's claim for moral superiority. Only last month, the BJP pounced on the DMK over a party functionary, Saidai Sadiq, making sexual innuendoes at actor, Kushbu and others. After DMK MP Kanimozhi apologised for the remarks, the BJP organized a protest in the city through a case had been registered against Sadiq.
The Dravidian major also recalled the former BJP vice president KT Raghavan's exit from the party following a leaked video and alleged that leaks have become an instrument in the saffron party to take on rivals.
“Why Annamalai is hesitant to take stringent action against persons who had hurled sexual abuses akin to an encyclopedia of pornography?” asked a write up in the party paper “Murasoli”. “Was this the party that was headed by leaders like Jana Krishnamurthy and L Ganesan, who commanded respect? Kamalalayam (BJP state headquarters) has lost its aura and become a den of goons. Even if washed by holy waters, the nausea that engulfs it cannot be cleansed,” it said. With Lok Sabha polls due in 2024, it remains to be seen whether this will turn out to be a storm in a tea cup or continue to haunt the party.
