Tamil Nadu Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) vice-president BT Arasakumar on Sunday stirred up a hornet's nest when he asserted that an appropriate time would come when Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) president MK Stalin would become the chief minister of Tamil Nadu.

Arasakumar's candid remarks were made at a wedding reception of DMK MLA Periyannan Arasu's daughter in Pudukkottai. MK Stalin was present at the dais during that time.

In his speech, Arasakumar said, "I say this with all honesty. After MGR [MG Ramachandran], the only leader I admire is MK Stalin. At a time when everyone was aspiring for the CM's post, Stalin conducted himself with dignity. Had he wanted, he could have gone to Kuvathur and got AIADMK MLAs. But he was patient and believed in democracy. Patience and right time will one day get him that chief minister's chair."

Arasakumar urged DMK leaders to desist from addressing MK Stalin as the next chief minister. "Everyone these days is using the term loosely to refer someone or other. I don't want to discredit Stalin by addressing him that way. But, he will definitely become the chief minister one day," he said.

Arasakumar's statement comes at a time when Tamil Nadu BJP leaders are taking on MK Stalin as part of the AIADMK alliance.

Arasakumar was a member of DMK from 1990-1995. He has been the secretary of Pudukkottai literary wing. He unsuccessfully contested 2016 assembly elections from Muthukulathur constituency in Ramanathapuram district.

Meanwhile, BJP Pudukkottai district unit has distanced itself from comments of Arasakumar. Sources within the party said that the matter has been taken up with state in-charge Muralidhar Rao.