Party treasurer pledges loyalty to Anbumani, saying some people are taking advantage of Ramadoss old age, and trying to mislead him.
Published May 16, 2025 | 7:07 PM ⚊ Updated May 16, 2025 | 7:07 PM
PMK key functionaries skip the meet organised by founder Ramadoss.
Synopsis: Only 22 out of the 220 invitees attended a meeting Dr S Ramadoss convened at his residence. The party founder, however, said no disciplinary action would be initiated against them.
Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) founder Dr S Ramadoss on Friday, 16 May, preferred to downplay a majority of party leaders, including working president Anbumani Ramadoss, staying away from a meeting he had convened to plan for the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections next year.
Ramadoss called for a meeting of party district secretaries at his residence in Thailapuram, Villupuram, on Friday, and extended invitations to 220 leaders. Only 22 attended the meeting on Friday.
Among those who skipped the meeting was the party’s working president, Anbumani Ramadoss.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, S Ramadoss said the leaders could not attend since they were exhausted after attending the recently-concluded Vanniyar Youth Conference at Mamallapuram. He ruled out initiating disciplinary action against them.
“Some members couldn’t attend due to exhaustion, but there’s no need for disciplinary action. There are no factional divisions within the party. Anbumani was also invited to the meeting.” he said.
The party founder said his outfit was targeting to win at least 50 constituencies and form the government in Tamil Nadu.
Putting up a brave facade, he said, “Even if a lion’s legs are injured, its fury remains. I’ve shared a strategy that can help us win 50 seats even while lying low. The purpose of this meeting was to exchange ideas toward achieving that goal. Even if we contest alone, we aim to win at least 40 seats. That said, an alliance for the 2026 elections is certain.”
S Ramadoss dismissed suggestions of internal discord and reaffirmed the party’s resolve ahead of the polls.
Where the rift began
Tensions between S Ramadoss and his son Anbumani Ramadoss have been simmering for some time. Some senior journalists like Gubendran described it as a “third-generation conflict” within the party.
The friction became public during the PMK’s general council meeting on 28 December 2024 in Villupuram, where Ramadoss and Anbumani clashed openly on stage.
“This is a party I founded. You must listen to what I say. If you’re not willing, you can step aside,” Ramadoss declared from the dais, prompting a visibly upset Anbumani to respond: “He has only been in the party for four months. What experience does he have to take on the responsibility of youth wing president? Give such an important role to someone with experience. There are many capable, field-tested leaders in the party.”
The reference was to the appointment of Mukundhan Parasuraman, Ramadoss’s grandson (his daughter Gandhimathi’s son), as state youth wing president—a move that Anbumani openly opposed.
Unfazed, Ramadoss doubled down: “Whoever it is, you must listen to me.” Anbumani walked off the stage in protest, saying, “I have an office in Panaiyur, Chennai. Whoever wants to meet me can come there.”
Despite resistance, Mukundhan’s appointment stood.
In April 2025, the conflict deepened. Ramadoss formally removed Anbumani’s “president” title, naming himself both founder and president of the PMK, while demoting Anbumani to the role of “working president.”
The move drew sharp criticism from senior party leaders, including treasurer Thilagapama, who posted a statement. “Democracy within the PMK has been murdered. Until now, every decision made by Ayya (Ramadoss) was correct. I have known the love of Ayya. But this decision is wrong. After all, love is everything,” he said.
At the PMK’s Chithirai Full Moon Conference in Mamallapuram on 11 May, discontent again surfaced during Ramadoss’s speech. Observers noted that Mukundhan, despite being the youth wing president, was not given a seat on the stage—a symbolic snub that drew murmurs within the party.
During his address, Ramadoss appeared to indirectly criticise Anbumani’s handling of alliance talks. “Some people ask—where is the alliance? I’ll take care of that. I’ll make the decision. You don’t have to worry about it. If you want MLA seats, work for them.”
“This alliance, that alliance, alliance within the party… internal coalitions—none of that will happen. Straighten yourself out. You cannot hold a position in this party. I’m saying this to whoever it applies,” he continued.
Anbumani remained seated, sporting a faint smile.
“In two more months, I’ll turn 87. Don’t think you can write me off by saying I’m getting old. This party is not the personal property of one man,” Ramadoss did not stop.
The speech further revealed the growing generational and leadership rift within the PMK.
Against this backdrop, Dr Ramadoss convened the meeting of the PMK’s district leadership. Yet, of the 110 district presidents and 110 district secretaries invited, only 22 turned up, highlighting the deepening internal divide.
When South First contacted party treasurer Thilagapama, she declined to comment in detail. “This is an internal party matter. I don’t want to comment. The media shouldn’t debate this. If we just leave it alone, it will resolve naturally,” she said.
Pressed on whether the mass absence was in solidarity with Anbumani, she confirmed, “Yes, absolutely. We are all standing by Anbumani.”
Asked about the root cause of the conflict, she said, “Ayya is getting old and is unable to manage many responsibilities. Some people are taking advantage of this and trying to mislead him.”
When asked whether those misleading Ramadoss were from within the family or the party, she replied bluntly: “It’s GK Mani,” referring to the PMK’s honorary president.
On whether boycotting a meeting called by the party’s founder amounted to disrespect, she responded, “We are all in pain. Sometimes we have to endure pain to move forward. If some find it difficult to bear, there’s nothing that can be done.”
She concluded, “We want to build the next generation of the party under Anbumani Ramadoss after Ayya. We will move toward that goal.”
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
