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NT Bureau
Chennai, Mar 24:

        In a new twist to the high decibel verbal duel between the DMK and its ally the PMK, Chief Minister M Karunanidhi today made it clear that he was dejected by the behaviour of PMK legislators.

        In a statement here, Karunanidhi said brother Vettrikondan, in his rejoinder to the PMK chief Dr Ramadoss's criticism of the State government, had used words which were against the spirit of the DMK's ideals of uprightness and discipline.'

        When the PMK delegation led by GK Mani met him, he had explained this to them and also expressed his anguish, the Chief Minister said.

        'I m very much pained by this conduct of Vettrikondan,' the Chief Minister said. But Karunanidhi, in the same breath, made a pitch for 'more matured behaviour' from the legislators of the PMK when he said,'My only dismay is that they came to the Secretariat and the Chief Minister's office with placards which had condemning phrases.'

        Arguing that this does not mean that he justified the remarks of his party colleague Vettrikondan, Karunanidhi said if members of the legislative assembly followed this trend, it would set an undesirable precedent and urged the PMK leaders to realise this.

        Tracing his position from the genesis of the bitterness between his party and the PMK, Karunanidhi said he had always maintained silence motivated by the 'pure thoughts of protecting the coalition' even in the face of criticism against the party and the government from allies.

        Admitting that the seeds of bitterness were sown in the past few months between the two alliance parties, the Chief Minister said this was evident from the news stories in the media.

        However, Karunanidhi stopped short of promising an apology from his senior party colleague Vettrikondan. Interestingly, PMK legislature party leader GK Mani had told mediapersons yesterday after his meeting with the Chief Minister that they were satisfied with Karunanidhi's stand. 'Chief Minister has promised that he would urge Vettrikondan to apologise,' Mani said. But the Chief Minister's explanatory statement released here today did not reflect this.

        At a time when the State Assembly is in session, it is said Karunanidhi is keen to find a mutually acceptable face saving formula. 'Though the feeling of hurt persists in the party, we are ready for a patch up given the stakes involved,' a senior DMK activist told News Today. However, party sources said here that this would not be done immediately as it may mean surrender to a comparatively 'minor ally.'