Tamil Nadu: Alleged Sex-chat Big Setback for BJP

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has once again landed in a controversy in Tamil Nadu after a sleazy sting video allegedly featuring its state general secretary KT Raghavan in a sexually explicit chat with a female party worker went viral on social media on Tuesday.

YouTuber and BJP member Madan Ravichandran claimed that he released the video as part of his probe into allegations of sexual harassment and exploitation against state BJP leaders. A day after the video was released, his YouTube channel, along with all other videos, was shut off.

Soon after the video surfaced, Raghavan tendered his resignation to BJP state president K. Annamalai. He tweeted to deny the allegations stating that the video intended to malign him and his party. However, BJP supporters and others took to social media and launched a strong attack on the leader and the party.

The alleged involvement of a prominent face of the party in a scandal is a major setback for the BJP, which recently held a yatra in the Kongu region of western Tamil Nadu to expand its reach.

QUESTIONS ARISE

The video has raised many questions in the public sphere. Why did Ravichandran, who joined the BJP last year, release a controversial video ‘involving’ his party leader? Moreover, why is he probing the allegations of sexual harassment and exploitation against state BJP leaders and releasing them online? The video has tarnished the party’s image and it is unclear why a party member would do so.

Ravichandran claims to have received permission from Annamalai to release the video and has circulated a screenshot of their WhatsApp conversation.

Screenshot of WhatsApp chat between Madan and Annamalai

Why Annamalai allowed Ravichandran to release such a controversial video? Twitter posts point out to a feud in the state party. In a statement, Annamalai accepted that Ravichandran had approached him twice regarding the matter but did not produce any evidence. He added that Ravichandran had sent him a message saying he would release videos of 15 such leaders if action is not taken and was subsequently given the go-ahead.

Another important question is why Raghavan resigned despite denying the allegations?

IMAGE TARNISHED

The video has offended BJP supporters because of Raghavan’s image of a righteous person in the public space besides pointing at his alleged infidelity. Besides, what riled BJP supporters was Raghavan’s ‘presence’ in a pooja room while allegedly chatting with the woman. Raghavan is known for attacking other ideologies especially being a strong critic of Periyar.

Ravichandran has said that he chose to release Raghavan’s video first because of his ‘Mr Clean’ image in the media. Notably, Raghavan was the BJP’s face in Tamil Nadu and the party’s spokesperson, who was often seen on television debates.

It is unclear whether Raghavan used force to demand sexual favours from the woman, who has not complained against him.

Congress MP Jothimani has said the party will file a police complaint against Raghavan claiming that “he has misbehaved with a woman and should be investigated”.

The video surfaced after the state BJP issued a legal notice to the Tamil daily Dinamalar for publishing an article in June alleging that the party had ‘received’ sexual harassment complaints against its state leaders. The BJP termed the article false and fabricated and took legal action.