Ever since Jayalalitha's visit to the Capital few weeks ago, mediators have been working on sending feelers from one camp to the other. Although no formal understanding has been clinched, sources feel the messages have been warm and are indicative of a shift in the stand of both the parties regarding one another. The sources are also hopeful that an understanding would be worked out after conclusion of the November Assembly elections in some states.

Relations between the two leaders were strained after Jayalalitha remarked, prior to the February 1998 elections, that Sonia was a foreigner and hence she should not be allowed to rule the country.

Sonia was also unhappy over the stance taken by Jayalalitha towards the Congress after theAIADMK came to power in the State in 1991.

Besides, Jayalalitha's remark that the 1991 election was not won on the basis of a sympathy wave caused by the Rajiv Gandhi assassination, upset Sonia.

However, all this could soon be a thing of past thanks to some mediatory efforts by the Congress leaders like Rajesh Pilot and Sharad Pawar, disclose sources.

The AIADMK believes that Sonia will make her moves to form a new Government at the Centre and decide on a snap poll within a month or two, seeking a clear and decisive mandate for Congress rule, rather than cut a sorry figure by having to kneel before coalition partners.

Sonia is said to have softened her stand towards the AIADMK and sees the possibility of sharing common ideas on some issues like formation of Government at the Centre and shaping the future of Tamil Nadu.

But, the AICC is said to have declined to give any commitment to Jayalalitha just yet as Jayalalitha is demanding dismissal of the DMK Government. A positive AIADMK feels that itcan, at a later stage, do business with the Congress, which is not averse to invoking Article 356 in any State.

Developments in her own front in the State has also prompted the AIADMK leader to weigh various options at the national level. With allies - MDMK, PMK and TRC - appearing to form a pro-BJP line-up in the State, Jayalalitha is likely to find the Congress a safer bet, as the latter has no stakes as far as the State government goes.