On Wednesday, Chief Minister Jayalalithaa told partymen at a public funtion a story about a father and son to illustrate her point on how MK Stalin has not been able to reach the pinnacle of his political career, thanks to his father. While no names were taken, the reference was lost on few.

DMK Leader M Karunanidhi has now lashed out against her on Twitter. Insinuating by metaphor that her reaching a high level in politics was simply by chance, he likened her rise to a wind that blew in her direction and led her to the topmost part of a tower. He further invalidated any connection of the DMK to her story saying that no parent would want their son to falter because they know their children would be the ones to carry on the legacy of the family – and that the AIADMK Chief Secretary is no one to point fingers considering the story of her rise. 

Jayalalithaa's story goes that a father warns his son that politics is a dangerous game and makes his point by asking his son to bring him a ladder, slimb up the loft and fetch papers that contained his political know-how. On climbing up, the father loosens his grip on the ladder and the son falls down. “If you think somebody will help you, you are wrong – politics is a fickle and dangerous game,” she narrates.