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NT Bureau
Chennai, Mar 23:

        If the relationship between the DMK and its ally the PMK had hit an all time low with the attack of DMK orator Vettrikondan on the PMK founder leader Dr Ramadoss, Chief Minister M Karunanidhi's insouciant reaction to it has caused even greater resentment among the PMK cadres as is evident from an open letter to Karunanidhi that appeared in today's PMK's mouthpiece Tamizh Osai.

        It may be recalled that Vettrikondan, a senior leader of the DMK and a noted speaker of the party, had, in a recent interview to a Tamil weekly, made caustic comments about the PMK chief. 'Ramadoss does not deserve the honorific Ayya and the government (DMK) is not at the mercy of anyone,' was some of the remarks made by the DMK star speaker.

        Asked about this, Karunanidhi said he was in agreement with the observation of Ramadoss that the behaviour of some partymen went beyond acceptable limits and that it had to be controlled.

        The senior leaders of the PMK, and the party workers are hurt that the Chief Minister chose to equate the 'uncivilised remarks' of Vettrikondan with with that of the political opinion expressed by PMK men.

        Meanwhile, in an open letter to the Chief Minister, the PMK newspaper explained that there is a clear difference between expressing one's opinion in a dignified manner or political criticism and uncivilised, crude personal attacks.

        'PMK MLAs have only expressed their opinion. But what Vettrikondan has spoken belongs to the genre of third rate, uncivilised ranting,' the paper said. Stating that the response of the Chief Minister on the issue does not reflect this, the paper referred to a Tamil adage to support his point 'Yaanaikkum Paanikkum Sariyendral Eppadi ?.

        The PMK MLAs who experience problems in the implementation of welfare schemes in their constituencies have expressed their troubles.

        But Vettrikondan has made uncouth personal attacks against the PMK founder leader Dr Ramadoss and Karunanidhi did not reflect this in his reply. 'Dr Ramadoss has never made any personal attacks on anyone.'

        Interestingly, the PMK party newspert also joined issue with the DMK orator for his remarks that the governement is 'not dependent' on anyone.

        With this open letter, coupled with the fact that the Assembly is in session, has heightened speculation that the episode would sharpen attacks from either side and open up a can of worms.