Chennai, Feb 2: Tamil Nadu Leader of Opposition Vijayakant was Thursday suspended from the assembly for 10 days, a day after a bitter exchange of words in the assembly with Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa and a walkout by his DMDK party members. Vijaykant said later he was ashamed he aligned with the AIADMK in the April 2011 state elections.

According to a resolution passed in the assembly Thursday, Vijayakant will not be eligible for any perks for the 10 days of his suspension. Other DMDK members were let off with a warning not to repeat their actions.

On Wednesday, there was an all-out war in the assembly with Jayalalithaa and one-time ally Vijayakant exchanging bitter words. 

As members of both parties argued and gesticulated, Speaker D. Jayakumar referred the behaviour of DMDK members to the Privileges Committee of the legislature. 

Speaking to the media after being handed the 10-day suspension order, Vijayakant said: "It was the AIADMK that wanted the alliance and we regret for aligning with that party."

Queried about Jayalalithaa's challenge to the DMDK to fight the Sankarankoil by-election on its own, Vijayakant said he is not afraid of fighting the elections alone, provided the ruling party is ready to dissolve the assembly and fight the elections under governor's (president's) rule.

Vijayakant claimed that opposition parties are not allowed to speak on issues inside the assembly and only those who praise the chief minister are allowed to speak.