When he launched his party, the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (National Progressive Dravidian Federation), in Madurai in 2005 with the drum as his symbol, he modeled himself after one of the most successful actor-politicians, M.G. Ramachandran, who founded the AIADMK. Soon, he was given the title ‘Black MGR’.

The big breakthrough, however, happened when the DMDK was able to corner over eight per cent of the votes polled in the 2006 assembly elections. He emerged as the newest spoilsport—the mark of a future ally, some said—as the DMDK candidates ensured the defeat of many prominent candidates, mostly those of the AIADMK. The Captain had arrived.

In subsequent elections to local bodies and the 2007 Madurai by-elections, the party retained the momentum, winning some civic body seats, coming a close third in the by-elections and garnering a sizable number of votes in the process.

In a fragmented political space connected only through electoral arrangements and a thread of Dravidian ideology, the path to power is through adjustments and diplomacy. But by attacking the leaders of all three regional parties—Karunanidhis, Ramadoss and Jayalalithaa—on charges of nepotism and corruption, the DMDK has narrowed its options to smaller players in the state.

This is where the Congress emerges and this is where Vijayakanth’s visit to New Delhi assumes significance. Though both parties have rubbished rumours of alliances, the AICC representative in charge of Tamil Nadu, Arun Kumar, reportedly met Vijayakanth aboard a Delhi-borne flight, fuelling speculations of a possible alliance.

Political observers here aren’t ruling out an understanding between the Congress and the DMDK. They point out to the fact that the present state government is propped up with the Congress’s support but it has steadfastly denied the party any ministerial berth. State Congress leaders fume at this ‘slight’ in private, especially since the DMK was able to corner good ministerial posts in the Union Cabinet.

But the Congress knows it is no pushover. In the recent past, no party outside a Congress alliance has formed a government in the state. (The MGR formula, as it is known, is still popular where the state party mobilises votes for the national player in the Parliamentary elections while the latter returns the favour during state elections.)

This is where Vijayakanth’s announcement in Delhi that the DMDK was open to alliances becomes significant. The moment DMK patriarch M. Karunanidhi decides to take a bow from active politics, observers say, Vijayakanth would get more space.

But the disadvantage is that the party has a single leader, single mascot and a single campaigner. For now, the drumbeats are loud, but it is still far from an organised symphony.