Early this morning, special police parties, which fanned out from Madurai, picked up the MDMK leaders from Erode, Sivaganga and Madurai. Meanwhile, in a statement issued from Chicago, Mr. Vaiko, condemned the arrest of his colleagues as a ``vindictive act that strangulates democracy''. Appealing to the cadres to maintain the peace and not to give room for violence, the MDMK leader said he would arrive in Chennai, as planned, around 1 p.m., Thursday.