Chennai: The simmering tensions between Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on December 30 burst into open with former Chief Minister M Karunanidhi attacking the state BJP of having "secret plans" to align with the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) in future elections.

In what appears to be essentially a sparring at the local BJP, he said the DMK would not leave the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) as long as the Centre did not deviate from the national agenda for governance.

"DMK has no objections if the BJP supports AIADMK if the BJP wants to do it in an open manner," he said in a hard-hitting statement in the wake of a cold war between the two parties in the state marked by statements critical of DMK made by BJP leader L Ganesan.

But doing it on the plea that the DMK was against the Hindus was "highly objectionable and this has been their scheme of things continuously", he said.

For the DMK, Karunanidhi said all religions were equal and wondered how it would be inimical towards Hindu. He said who would oppose Hinduism if there was no caste discrimination practiced in it.

PTI