More than in any other state, the key to securing seats in Tamil Nadu is the kind of alliances a party sews up. So the Congress, the Left, small Dalit outfits, with smaller vote shares, have actually got together and made the difference between winners and losers — something that was well and truly brought home in the 2004 sweep by the DMK-led Democratic Progressive Alliance and then again in the assembly elections three years ago. The DMK-led alliance included the PMK, the Congress and the Left then.

So, while the uncertainty of who will align with which “national” party before the polls is a puzzle, what adds to the mystery is that the Congress, at least so far, has kept open the question of prospective alliance partners, or of changing them after the results are out. (The Congress has decided not to go into these general elections as a “national alliance”.) So, it certainly won’t be over till it’s over and the next government is sworn in. It feels limiting to end a discussion about possible futures with a phrase from so long ago, but parkalam it appears to be.

seema.chishti@expressindia.com