Chennai: Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) supremo M Karunanidhi on Thursday said the raid conducted by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) at his son Stalin’s residence ”may or may not be a political vendetta”.

“If the Central minister says they were not aware of the CBI raids on MK Stalin, we have reasons to believe them,” he said.

Senior Congress Minister, including Finance Minister P Chidambaram and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath, have strongly condemned the CBI action.

“I was told about it a little while ago. I am trying to gather facts. Normally I don’t interfere with the work of the other department. But in this case, I have to say that I strongly disagree with the action of the CBI. It is bound to be misunderstood,” Chidambaram said.

“I thoroughly disapprove the CBI raids and condemn it. However much we condemn it, would be less,” Nath added.

Stalin, whose residence in Chennai was searched by the CBI in connection with alleged illegal import of cars here this morning, termed the latest developments to be a ”political vendetta”.

The raids at Stalin’s residence took place two days after the DMK formally withdrew its support to the UPA alliance.

The DMK on Tuesday withdrew its support to the UPA over the issue of alleged human rights violations of Sri Lankan Tamils, and ruled out any reconsideration.

A five-member DMK delegation headed by TR Baalu handed over a letter by party supremo M Karunanidhi to President Pranab Mukherjee at 10.30 pm at Rashtrapati Bhavan withdrawing support of its 18 Lok Sabha MPs to the UPA government.

This move of the DMK has made the UPA Government vulnerable despite its assertions of having a parliamentary majority. The ruling coalition will now eye for support from the regional parties, which includes the Bahujan Samaj Party and the Samajwadi Party.

With the pullout of the 18 DMK MPs in the Lok Sabha, the strength of the UPA Government declines from 295 to 277 in the Rajya Sabha.