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With its decision to arrest a member of Parliament under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA), Tamil Nadu was already treading new ground.
Vaiko's arrest may have already persuaded the Centre to take a fresh look at the safeguards provided under POTA against harassment.
However, Chief Minister Jayalalithaa followed that up with a proposal to ban his party, the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK).
If the party is indeed banned, a question mark would hang over the fate of its elected representatives.
The party has four members in the Lok Sabha, including Vaiko, two of who are Union ministers.
The MDMK is a registered state-level political party with the Election Commission of India, a constitutional authority.
The AIADMK supremo has already admitted that while her state can ban the MDMK, her government would have to approach the Centre to extend the ban nationwide.
Two pan-Tamil militant groups, the Tamil Nadu Liberation Army (TNLA) and Tamil Nadu Retrieval Troops (TNRT), are already facing a statewide ban under the Criminal Law Amendment Act.
Once a plea for a nationwide ban is lodged with the Centre, the state government can approach the Election Commission to de-register the MDMK.
Also, individuals or political parties could seek de-registration of the party citing the ban.
Significantly, while a ban under regular criminal laws can be challenged, one under the provisions of POTA does not leave scope for argument.
Besides, with POTA providing for seizure of both movable and immovable property acquired through terrorism-related funds, the government could embarrass Vaiko by asking him and the MDMK to give details of their assets.
While the BJP has said Vaiko's arrest under POTA was 'undesirable and unwarranted', the Congress refused to take a stand on the issue.
However, Congress spokesman Anand Sharma termed Vaiko's defence of the LTTE as 'highly improper', which may come as a shot in the arm for Jayalalithaa.
The Congress has every reason to dislike the LTTE and its sympathisers considering that the outfit is believed to be behind the assassination of former prime minister and Congress president Rajiv Gandhi.
On the other hand, Samajwadi Party president Mulayam Yadav declared that he would take up Vaiko's case and that of his eight party colleagues in Parliament during the monsoon session, commencing on Tuesday.
More reports on the controversy surrounding Vaiko
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