The inevitability of post-poll alliances will humble those strutting around as prime-ministerial aspirants to a stooping level hitherto not perceived by them. “Warm relationships” may turn hot or cold when regional satraps bargain hard for cabinet berths— after all, the logic of coalition governments hinges on cabinet berths. These regional players will be tough to crack but none is expected to be tougher than the Southern queen, the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, J. Jayalalithaa.