Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam president M Karunanidhi on Saturday ruled out supporting the Congress in the February 26 by-election to the Sattankulam assembly seat in Tamil Nadu.
In a statement in Chennai, he snubbed state Congress president S Balakrishnan's offer to 'consider' the DMK's support, if extended.
"The DMK will never give 'poor' Balakrishnan the tough task of considering our support," he said.
"The DMK, which was born out of self-respect, has grown into a massive Banyan tree, nurtured as it was by a socio-political revolution. This tree will not volunteer its shade to every passer-by."
Only last week, many state Congress leaders had called on Karunanidhi.
They were also conspicuous by their presence at the release of a book authored by him.
This, combined with the DMK's growing estrangement with the state BJP leaders, and the Sangh Parivar outfits in particular, over their championing of the pro-Hindutva agenda of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagham, had caused speculations.
Karunanidhi's statement came just a day after Vijay Goel, a minister in the prime minister's office, called on him. Goel said that the DMK continued to be a trusted ally of the BJP.