Reporter’s diary: The slanging match that could get worse

However, Stalin has been found giving a piece of his mind to reporters when they get on his nerves by posing intemperate questions. On Sunday, Stalin strayed away from his usual matter-of-fact replies and gave a sarcastic response that hit out at actor Kamal Haasan, DMK’s most bitter critic of late.

When reporters drew Stalin’s attention to Kamal firing salvos at him, he tersely said, “I’m talking about politics,” leaving the audience, including protesting V Narayaswamy, in splits. T

he DMK chief’s jibe did not go unnoticed, thanks to netizens who had a gala time reading between the lines of both leaders. “The centrism of Kamal’s politics lies in him publicly criticizing DMK and refusing to do the same against the BJP,” tweeted writer and Dravidian ideologist Mathimaran. The timing of Kamal’s jibes at DMK has also irked a few allies who have started doubting his commitment to secular credentials in private.

Ironically, Kamal and Stalin had appeared to be bosom buddies happily posing for the lensmen on many occasions, including a few DMK organised events! If the tone and tenor of the attacks of Kamal and the retort of Stalin are something to go by, the slanging match could get worse in the days to come, unlike the case of Rajinikanth, whom the DMK took a jab at once and contentedly withdrew after the two parties spoke in private.