Though he was late by an hour, a huge crowd had been waiting patiently for him at the first stop at Triplicane. On a working day, well past 4 in the evening, I didn't expect too many people on the road. But I was in for a big surprise! There were television crews from all over the nation, mikes on the ready. The moment his vehicle screeched to a halt, people began to surge forward and crowd around, screaming, 'Vaiko...Vaiko...'

Vaiko sprang up from the seat and turned behind; by then, somebody had opened up the top of the vehicle. Within a second he was standing on the platform inside the vehicle with half of him out in the open. Everything was so well coordinated that in no time Vaiko was standing on top of his vehicle and waving at the delirious crowd.

By then, T R Baalu, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam candidate from the Chennai South constituency, had entered the vehicle; he soon joined Vaiko on top. All he said was, "I am T R Baalu, your candidate. I will not stand between you and Vaiko." He then passed the mike to Vaiko, who is not contesting the Lok Sabha election this time, only campaigning for candidates of the DMK-led alliance of which the MDMK is an important constituent.