In 1996, of the five seats it contested, the party sent four members to the state assembly. Two years later, the party won four seats in the general elections and joined the NDA government at the Centre. In 2001, it struck an alliance with the AIADMK, winning 20 seats in the assembly elections. This understanding did not last long.

From being one of the bigger parties among minor ones, PMK grew in size and perception after joining the carefully stitched together United Progressive Alliance that took on the NDA-AIADMK combine in the state in 2004.

The UPA won all 39 constituencies in the state, with PMK winning the six seats allotted to the party and also garnered a RS nomination for Ramadoss’s son Anbumani. In the state elections in 2006, PMK won 18 seats.

DMK leaders refuse to give much mileage to PMK’s growth story, insisting that it was the alliance that helped the party. “That all the candidates who contested as part of the UPA have won the election is proof that it was the alliance strategy coupled with strong anti-incumbency that won them the elections,” said a DMK leader.

PMK shares good relations with Vaiko’s MDMK and the Viduthalai Chituthikal Katchi, two political parties that espouse the Lankan Tamils’ cause. After its expulsion from UPA, MDMK is now in the AIADMK camp.

As an outside supporter, PMK functioned like a virtual opposition. Ramadoss’s barbs hurt the DMK as it came from an ally in the state and partner at the Centre.

... contd.