Upset over the inability of her MPs to communicate in English when asked to take up ministerial assignments at Centre, Jayalalitha had taken a policy decision of ensuring that all her candidates in the Lok Sabha elections are well-qualified. It is on account of this policy, a former bureaucrat K Malaisamy and former chief justice V Ramaswami (only chief justice in the country's history to face impeachment proceedings) figured in the AIADMK list of candidates. Malaisamy was fielded from Ramanathapuram constituency while Ramaswami was pitted against MDMK leader Vaiko at Sivakasi.

This move byJayalalitha of giving seats to outsiders had raised the eyebrows of many party leaders but they preferred to remain silent as is their wont in AIADMK. But what really seem to have brought the matter to head seems to be the animosity of Thamaraikkani towards V Ramaswami in the latter's stint as chief justice.

Thamaraikkani, it is learnt, had voiced his objection to nomination of Ramaswami but Jayalalitha stood by her decision. This resulted in Thamaraikkani, a popular leader in that area, throwing his cap into the ring. The extent of his popularity can be gauged from the fact that he is one among the few MLAs who managed to get elected despite a strong anti-Jayalalitha wave during the 1996 state assembly elections. He is also notorious for using his fists freely in the state assembly.

This development would only help MDMK leader Vaiko. Thamaraikkani is likely to eat into AIADMK votes in his assembly constituency viz. Srivilliputtur and other areas where he has influence thereby aiding Vaiko.