Chennai: In Tamil Nadu, it's the Queen Bee who's first off the block. AIADMK Chief Jayalalithaa kick started her election campaign in Chennai ahead of her arch rival Karunanidhi.
The AIADMK Chief may have ruled out Prime Ministerial ambitions, but she is clearly aiming to be kingmaker with her candidates from her new found rainbow coalition.
"Whoever Tamil Nadu points to, only that person can become PM. Vote with that aim in mind," she said.
Speaking from a stage that is designed like the Indian Parliament, Jayalalithaa launched a blistering attack on Karunanidhi. And almost a lakh followers there were ecstatic throughout her emotional speech.
"Karunanidhi puts his family interests above Tamil Nadu's interests. In my case, I have no family," Jayalalitha said.
If Jayalalithaa focused on the DMK Government's failures in Tamil Nadu, her allies like the CPM did not spare the Congress.
"The Prime Minister ridiculed regional parties but his UPA government survived on regional parties' support. The only thing the Congress and DMK have is money power and they are trying to do a Thirumangalam in the whole of Tamil Nadu," said Prakash Karat.
However, with Jayalalithaa, an opponent of the banned Tigers, on the same stage, Vaiko toned down his speech. There was no mention of the LTTE. Neither were there any inflammatory remarks like his recent outbursts for which he was booked for sedition.