A row erupted tonight between the SDLP and Sinn Féin after the republican party’s chairman Mr Mitchel McLaughlin warned the SDLP could fragment if it merged with a political party in the South.
SDLP chairman Mr Alex Attwood accused Mr McLaughlin of inconsistency because Sinn Féin had called for an electoral pact between the parties in next year's Assembly elections.
Responding to Mr McLaughlin's claims that the SDLP could break up if it merged with Fianna Fáil or one of the Opposition parties, the West Belfast MLA accused Sinn Fein of running scared of a future all-Ireland political realignment.
"Last week, Gerry Adams called the SDLP a temporary party - a little odd from the leader of a party for which everything is temporary," Mr Attwood retorted.
"For Sinn Féin, the principle of abstentionism (from the Dail) has been temporary and abandoned, the slogan of ‘Disband the RUC’ temporary and forgotten, the policy of opposition to Europe and the Northern Assembly both temporary.
"It is inevitable that Sinn Féin opposition to the Police Service of Northern Ireland will be temporary and their refusal to take seats in Westminster will be temporary.
"It is odd that while Gerry Adams says the SDLP is a temporary party, Mitchel McLaughlin this weekend wants an electoral pact."
Earlier, Mr McLaughlin said he believed there was "a very real possibility" the SDLP could fragment if it attempted to merge with a party south of the border.
The SDLP, he claimed, was a "collection of political activists who do not necessarily come from the same background or subscribe to the same economic and political analysis."
Speculation that the SDLP may merge with allies in the Irish Republic was fuelled on Thursday after its leader Mr Mark Durkan appeared to suggest it could happen. Northern Ireland's Deputy First Minister later clarified his position, claiming talk of mergers was "misplaced and untimely".
As a member of the Party of European Socialists, the SDLP's natural ally would be Labour. But it is believed a considerable section of the party would have Fianna Fáil allegiances and some Fine Gael.
Mr McLaughlin said the fact that some SDLP leaders were beginning to "moot a realignment in politics" was welcome. The Sinn Féin chairman also suggested there should be a voting pact between nationalists in next year's Assembly elections to maximise nationalist representation at Stormont.
Last year Sinn Féin urged the SDLP to join them in an electoral pact during the Westminster elections in a bid to increase the number of nationalist MPs in the House of Commons. However talks broke down.
Sinn Féin went on to overtake the SDLP in the number of House of Commons seats and in the battle for the popular vote in nationalism.
PA