Bhartiya Janashakti Party (BJS) President Uma Bharati slapped her party's district general secretary Anil Rai, believed to be close to BJS's breakaway faction, in full public view near the Government Circuit House in Chhindwara.

Party sources said Bharti got infuriated when Rai was supposedly disturbing a meeting between Bharati and several persons by repeatedly calling them over their mobile phones.

Rai, who is a supporter of BJS breakaway faction led by Prahlad Patel was asking people to come out of the meeting and that annoyed Bharati, sources said.

Bharati asked Rai to get down from his car and slapped him twice in front of people and party workers. However, Bharati later told a press conference that Rai was like her brother and she had a right to "love or hit him".

"Rai was violating the model code of conduct and therefore, invited my wrath," she said. However, Bharaati refused to disclose how Rai was violating the model code of conduct.

Rai, who was also present at the press conference said Bharati was like his elder sister and she had the right to "beat him or love him". Bharati also paid a visit to Rai's residence after the incident.