The arrest of Kanimozhi is pushing her father's alliance with the Congress further down a slippery slope. The recent elections delivered a body blow to M Karunanidhi who heads the DMK and is Kanimozhi's father. The DMK which had tied up with the Congress for the elections delivered one if its worst-ever performances.Kanimozhi was arrested in connection with India's telecom scam just a week after the results were announced."Kanimozhi had travelled from one place to another for campaigning. She worked hard for DMK's victory...she's in prison either because of the Centre's order or indifference or some other reason," said Mr Karunanidhi in his constituency of Tiravur on Sunday.Kanimozhi is reportedly her father's favourite child; like her stepbrothers, she was a practitioner of considerable power within her father's party.But in May, she was arrested for allegedly accepting a bribe along with another DMK leader, A Raja, who has been in jail since February for engineering the 2G scam. When he was Telecom Minister in 2008, Mr Raja sold mobile network licenses and spectrum for a pittance to companies who had allegedly conspired with him in a private and illicit partnership.Kanimozhi had been interrogated repeatedly about her role in the 2G scam before she was arrested. Her father blamed the CBI for turning her interrogation into a media spectacle.

While both the Congress and he have said their alliance remains unaffected, both sides have been sounding unconvinced, especially after their team was battered in the elections.