Addressing an event for the launch of railway projects, Siva claimed that while he had allotted Rs 1 crore from his MPLAD Fund for an escalator at Tiruchirapalli railway junction -- which was inaugurated by Prabhu -- there was no mention of that contribution in either the official advertisements or the invite for the function.
He also cited incidents involving various leaders, including his party's chief Karunanidhi, claiming they were sidelined at public functions.
Chinnayya, when the turn came for him to speak, referred to Siva's speech and quoted a Tamil proverb meaning "as you sow, so shall you reap" before thanking Chief Minister Jayalalithaa and resuming his seat.
No sooner had he done that than a war of words broke out between Siva and the Animal Husbandry minister even as Prabhu rose to address the gathering. However, nothing much could be made out of the exchange between the two even as a section of the audience, too, began to shout.
"I told Chinnayya that what he had said was unwarranted as I did not speak politics. I only recalled incidents wherein leaders were sidelined," Siva said.
He claimed that Chinnayya told him he could not keep quiet if such comments were made.
"It was I who got the minister's date for this function and it was scheduled to have been held in Tiruchirappalli, but that was not done," he said.
When contacted, Chinnayya said, "Whatever I have said (at the event) is sufficient. I don't want to say anything more."