New Delhi: The public spat between M. Hazeena Syed who stepped down as chief of the Congress’s Tamil Nadu Mahila wing and Mahila Congress National President Alka Lamba has deepened the party’s troubles in the poll-bound state. The two have traded barbs since 10 April, when Syed lashed out at the Congress leadership over denial of a ticket, prompting Lamba to remove her as Tamil Nadu Mahila Congress president.
Syed hit back, saying Lamba’s action was of little consequence as she had already resigned. She also blamed Lamba’s “harassment” for her decision to quit the party. Lamba, in turn, said Syed was acting out of bitterness. Both have now filed defamation suits against each other. While Syed has not said whether she plans to join another party, she has shared on social media messages of solidarity extended to her by the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) women’s wing.
Speaking to ThePrint Monday, Syed alleged that Lamba had “threatened to kill” her. Earlier, she had also claimed she was denied a ticket for being a Muslim.
Responding, Lamba questioned Syed’s “character” and said she was reacting out of bitterness after being denied a ticket. “Syed was removed due to lack of performance, not because she is a Muslim. I have not harassed her. The decision was based on her report card and what is best for the party; several other states have Muslim Mahila presidents,” Lamba said.
The showdown comes at a time when the Congress’s Tamil Nadu unit is grappling with internal dissent over ticket distribution. Key leaders considered close to Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, including Manickam Tagore and Jothimani, have gone public with their resentment, straining the party’s alliance with the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK).
Earlier this month, Tagore, who had lobbied aggressively for a larger share of seats in the alliance with the DMK, stepped down as the party’s Tamil Nadu in-charge for poll coordination.
Meanwhile, Syed had earlier written to Gandhi, alleging she was “humiliated” during the ticket distribution process. She also accused Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Overseas Congress chairman Sam Pitroda and Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president K. Selvaperunthagai of being “unjust” towards her.
“I have sacrificed more than half of my life for this party, and I am already suffering mental trauma due to the way I have been treated,” she told ThePrint. Syed also sought to corner the Congress leadership on the debate over 33 per cent reservation for women in Parliament and state legislatures.
“We hold dharnas on women’s issues and have fought on the streets for 33 percent reservation. But if this is how women are treated within the party, what moral ground do we have? We saw Sonia ji’s article as well, but this is the reality on the ground,” she said, referring to the Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson’s opinion piece in a leading daily ahead of the upcoming Parliament session where the women’s reservation law is expected to be amended.
(Edited by Nardeep Singh Dahiya)