The battle between Karuna and Pillayan intensified last week with the office of Eastern Chief Minister Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan alias Pillayan faxing a statement that Karuna has been bought over by the government.

The statement was signed as Tamil People Living in the East (TPLE). The statement said Karuna had betrayed the Tamil people after being appointed as a Member of Parliament at the expense of the rights of the Tamil community.

The statement called upon Pillayan not to make such decisions that would push the Tamils to a helpless situation. "Karuna Amman has been bought over. What would be the state of the people of our district if Pillayan also abandons us?" the statement said.

The divisions within the TMVP widened with the Pillayan faction openly challenging Karuna’s leadership.

Soon after Karuna’s statement that provincial councils did not require police powers, Pillayan loyalists and TMVP General Secretary, E. Kaileswararaja fired off a letter to Karuna seeking explanation as to why he made such a statement against party decisions. However Karuna loyalists hit back arguing that the Pillayan faction was engaged in splintering the party right down the middle.

Karuna last Tuesday had said that the provincial councils did not need police and land powers. The TMVP had said that the statement was against the party decision and said that the view expressed by Karuna was his personal view.

However K. Iniyabharathi, TMVP Ampara District Head, a Karuna loyalist told The Sunday Leader that a certain group was trying to split the party by creating unwanted problems.

He said that Karuna still remains the leader of the TMVP. "These are all unwanted issues. Some people are trying to split the party by raising unwanted problems. Karuna Amman is still the leader of the TMVP. No one needs to have doubts about that," Iniyabharathi said.