Was the appeal made out of a genuine conviction to bring all the ``secular forces'' under one umbrella to fight the DMK-BJP brand ``communalism''? Or was it made following the realisation that alliance with the AIADMK alone would not be sufficient to make a mark in the Tamil Nadu political situation?In TNCC president Tindivanam K Ramamurthy's view, political equations have changed in the post-poll situation. So political parties also have to change and grow. There is no point in harping on the past.

But Ramamurthy fails to realise that the TMC's offer of co-ordination was turned down by the AICC without valid reasons.

The co-ordination offer was first made by the TMC in April 1998.

However, the AICC leadership keptsaying that if TMC president G K Moopanar had faith in Congress party's leadership, he had no choice other than merging his party with the Congress.

In extending an olive branch to Moopanar in the post-poll scenario, is the Congress making it clear that the two parties can exist as separate entities and yet arrive at an amicable working relationship?

The Congress utilised the November 4 agitation by the AIADMK-led Opposition as a pretext to win over the TMC. The CPI and CPM also chipped in pretending that it was part of the effort to mobilise all ``secular forces'' under one umbrella.

However, Tamil Maanila Congress sources made it clear that the party would not easily yield to the overtures of the AIADMK and Congress, especially as the ``sudden love'' for the TMC appeared to have materialised with an eye on the next Assembly elections in the State.

It is also pointed out that after the split in 1996, what remains of the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee is a truncated version. And with the prospectsof the Congress coming to power at the Centre receding, the old formula of sharing the Assembly and Lok Sabha seats with either of the two major Dravidian parties has collapsed.

Which is one reason why AIADMK general secretary J Jayalalitha is more keen on striking a new relationship with the TMC than strengthening her ties with the Congress as a poll ally.