Chennai: The infighting between the BJP and ally Vaiko, MDMK chief, escalated into a full-fledged verbal duel with the saffron party's national secretary H. Raja on Sunday lashing out at Mr Vaiko for his remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi while state president, Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan, said he was "conducting himself as an opposition party leader" who ought not to stoop to the level of caustically criticising Modiji.
"Our party leaders and cadres resent his comments," she said, reacting to Mr Vaiko's disapproval of Mr Modi greeting Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the recent SAARC summit in Nepal.
"I have, in the past, criticised former prime ministers Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi and Dr Manmohan Singh. What is wrong in democratically expressing my views," Mr Vaiko thundered.
In Sivagangai, the home town of Mr Raja, the MDMK members took out a protest march, condemning him.
BJP leader, Dr Subramanian Swamy, tweeted, "My message to Vaiko: Get out of NDA before you are thrown out. Read the writing on the wall."
Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan, who was in Tiruchy, and almost justified Dr Swamy's remarks, said Dr Swamy was within his rights to express his views on Twitter.
"Tamil Nadu BJP can't respond to all his remarks. But Mr Vaiko should stop criticising the Prime Minister," she said.
There are reports that the State BJP leaders have already asked the party high command to initiate action against Mr Vaiko, who continues to go hammer and tongs at Mr Modi, despite being a member of the BJP-led NDA.
