Infuriated AIADMK leaders then barged back into the House, demanding that the Speaker disallow Shekher to make his speech. However, Avudaiappan refused to entertain their plea, leading to loud boos, slogans and a second walkout on the first day of the session.

Incidentally, Shekher’s relations with the party high command became strained soon after he was elected as the MLA from Mylapore — a stronghold of Tamil Brahmins — in 2006, when he defeated present Union Minister of State D Napoleon.

According to sources, his invitations to Chief Minister M Karunanidhi and Kanchi Mutt seer Jayendra Saraswathi — put behind bars by Jayalalithaa on charges including murder — for two different functions had riled the party leadership.

During the Assembly session in August last, his party colleagues ignored him completely, with no one speaking to him or even sitting next to him.