Tamil Nadu Politics is an interesting mosaic of hues. When the DMK decided in June this year to snap its ties with the PMK, the immediate question was if the former would insist that the two PMK Union Ministers be dropped. It didn't happen In fact, the DMK made it clear then that it will not seek the removal of PMK nominees Anbumani Ramadoss and R Velu from the Union government.

The next possibility at that time was that the PMK might join hands with AIADMK. If that had happened, then PMK would have been the second party after Vaiko's MDMK to join AIDMK since the 2004 Lok Sabha polls. That didn't happen.

A third possibility that was talked about was that the PMK might join hands with the Congress for a non DMK-non AIADMK front. Nor did this happen.

Now, as the Lok Sabha polls are just round the corner, the DMK doesn't want to take any chance, especially in an entirely transformed political scenario. The Left parties have parted way and the DMDK, a seemingly growing power might be a deciding factor. At this juncture the DMK can ill afford to ignore the PMK, which commands the total support of OBC Vanniyars, and which has the clout to influence the electoral outcome in 40 of Tamil Nadu's 234 assembly segments and eight of 39 Lok Sabha seats. In the present Lok Sabha, PMK has six MPs.

It is in this context that the meeting between DMK's senior leader T R Balu and the PMK leader Dr. S. Ramadoss at the latter's residence at Thailapuram on Tuesday night gains significance. The message is clear. The DMK Chief M Karunanidhi wants the PMK to be in the DMK-led UPA. Otherwise, DMK's Murasoli wouldn't have sacked two of its journalists for having published an article attacking the PMK's stand on the Sri Lankan Tamils.

However, Dr Ramadoss doesn't want to take any hasty decision. He would rather wait and watch before making the next move.