Vaiko spends lonely year in jail, Jaya winner all the way

But then he had spoken too soon. It was put out that Jayalalithaa was willing to heed the Centre’s plea, but was angered by the report of Vaiko’s website interview. With the result he was taken into custody on arrival.

Today, Jayalalithaa doesn’t seem to have lost. When asked about Vaiko’s completing one year in prison, BJP president Venkaiah Naidu only said: ‘‘It’s unfortunate.’’ His other ally, the DMK too, would not stick its neck out beyond demanding that POTA be withdrawn.

Vaiko’s condition is unenviable. While his USP has, for some time, been his image as the leader most loyal to the BJP, the latter is drawing close to the AIADMK. The alliance between the BJP and the DMK has become almost untenable. The other Tamil Nadu constituent of the NDA, the PMK, is not particularly coy about shifting alliances and hence should have no problem in being part of the AIADMK bandwagon if the BJP revives its ties with Jayalalithaa. But Vaiko cannot afford to do so and the Congress might not accept him as an ally either. His pro-LTTE stance would come in the way.

In the circumstances, the only option could be merger with the DMK. But Karunanidhi would certainly strike a hard bargain if Vaiko supplicates before him.