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.