Madurai:
The rivalry between the two main political parties in Tamil Nadu - caustic at the best of times - is getting louder and fiercer now that the elections are barely three weeks away.
The DMK which is currently in power launches its campaign officially tomorrow in Tiruvarur where Chief Minister M Karunanidhi will lead the way. Jayalalithaa, on the other hand, will launch the AIADMK's campaign in Tiruchi on Thursday.
Jayalalaithaa managed to salvage her alliance with the Left after it reached breaking point over how many seats the Left parties would contest. And actor Vijayakanth has added his party, the DMDK, to the mix.
Mr Karunanidhi's son, MK Alagiri, is not impressed. "The opposition's alliance in Tamil Nadu is on ventilator. You know what will happen. People will remove it on April 13," he said. He also said that Vijayakanth, who he had earlier praised for his self-respect, "has proved he does not have it."
The DMK is fighting 119 of the 234 assembly seats in Tamil Nadu; its partner, the Congress has been given 63 seats.