Sasikala thanks Sonia, Rahul but gives no hint if she will join any party

New Delhi: Expelled AIADMK Rajya Sabha MP M Sasikala Pushpa on Monday did not give any indication about her joining any political party but thanked Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Vice President Rahul Gandhi for their support.

Sasikala, who reportedly slapped DMK lawmaker Trichy Siva at Delhi airport on Saturday, also dismissed suggestions that there was any connection between the incident and her resignation.

Earlier in the day, AIADMK supremo Jayalalithaa expelled her from the party, saying her behaviour had brought "great disrepute" to the organisation.

"I want to thank Congress party governed under Soniaji and Rahulji, because they have supported me today and then I want to thank DMK which has supported me today even though there was an issue," Sasikala told NDTV.

Asked if she would now join Congress, the former Tuticorin mayor said,"I don't know."

Earlier in Rajya Sabha, Sasikala claimed that she was slapped by a "leader" and faced threat to her life in Tamil Nadu. She, however, did divulge who slapped her and when.

Pushpa first rushed into the Well of the House to seek permission to make a statement and then broke down several times as she said she faced "life threat" from the state government and alluded to her being allegedly slapped by a "leader".

Deputy Chairman P J Kurien said the Chairman was custodian of all members of the House and he will protect her too. He, however, asked her not to mention anyone's name who cannot come to the House to defend himself or herself.

But the opposition, including Congress, protested, saying she should be allowed to make her full submission. Under the law, an MP can retain his seat after being expelled by the party on whose ticket he had won.