Acting quickly to stem a snowballing controversy in a crucial state, the BJP today sacked and then expelled a top Uttar Pradesh leader, Dayashankar Singh, over his outrageous comments on camera comparing rival political leader Mayawati to a prostitute.
A police case or FIR was also filed against Mr Singh by members of Mayawati's Bahujan Samaj Party.
The BJP removed Mr Singh as a vice president in Uttar Pradesh soon after Finance Minister Arun Jaitley expressed 'personal regret' in Parliament, telling Mayawati: "It is not right and I condemn the use of this word and if a person has said this, we will investigate. I express personal regret. I associate with your dignity and stand with you."
Lacerated by critics, he apologized and said: "I can't even think of Mayawatiji that way. She has come up after a lot of struggle."
Mr Singh was one of the 15 BJP vice presidents in Uttar Pradesh, where campaigning for elections next year has picked up both pace and aggression and where the BJP hopes to take forward its massive gains in the 2014 national election.
Other opposition parties rallied behind her, condemning Mr Singh in one voice, forcing the BJP to make quick amends.
"This is not only a women's issue. This is a man's issue. The problem is with men making these statements," said Trinamool's Derek O'Brien.
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