However, it was a "white crows" remark by an AIADMK MLA which triggered the exchange of words between Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader K R Ramasamy and Cooperation Minister Sellur K Raju.
During a debate in the Assembly, Jayankondam AIADMK MLA J K N Ramajeyalingam said Congress would endorse DMK even "if it said white crows flew above," alluding to a colloquial anecdote.
Ramasamy objected to this and said his party did not behave like that.
At this point, he also took a dig at AIADMK Amma's support to Kovind.
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Minister Raju took exception to Ramasamy's statement and said Chief Minister K Palaniswami had extended Amma faction's support to Kovind since he hailed from a "very backward community," indicating at his Dalit background.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had sought support from Palaniswami with the Chief Minister having consultations yesterday with senior colleagues before deciding to support the NDA's nominee, Raju said.
"We are not a slave to BJP. In fact, we are neither a slave to anyone nor a boss to anybody," he added.