‘Can’t sit dummy & give party to son Anbumani,’ says Ramadoss as PMK feud reaches Madras HC

PMK founder has approached court to restrain son Anbumani from holding party’s general council meeting on 9 August, says differences began over alliance and candidates.

File photo of PMK founder S. Ramadoss and son Anbumani | ANI

Chennai: The ongoing feud in the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) between founder S. Ramadoss and his son Anbumani has escalated into an open war, with the former dragging Anbumani to the Madras High Court and asserting that he cannot “sit dummy” and give the party away to him.

“I cannot give the party to Anbumani and sit dummy at my Thailapuram residence,” Ramadoss told reporters at his residence Thursday. He also alleged that Anbumani had changed the party headquarters’ address to his own residence without Ramadoss’s knowledge.

“Whatever it is, PMK (headquarters) is in Thailapuram farm only. Legally, Thailapuram address was given as the party’s address and we are confident that legally we will win the matter,” he said.

Ramadoss further said the fight between him and his son began because of difference in opinion over the party’s alliances and candidates. “The root cause of all the problems is that Anbumani wanted to decide the alliance and he wanted to decide the candidates for the constituencies,” he claimed.

Ramadoss also alleged that Anbumani had asked to give the party to him and not to meet party workers at his residence. “Those who came to pacify and hold talks also conveyed the same. How can I give away the party that I founded, held and protected for 36 years?”

He made the statements a day after he moved the high court to restrain Anbumani from holding the party’s general council meeting on 9 August at Mahabalipuram.

In his petition, filed by S. Murali Shankar, who was appointed as general secretary of PMK by Ramadoss, he terms the meeting as “extremely illegal”.

“Anbumani’s calling for a general council meeting is an extremely illegal act and the meeting was called with an ulterior motive to create confusion among the cadres. Such meetings called by Anbumani would only create law and order issues,” states the petition filed in court, seen by ThePrint.

Asked about it, PMK’s treasurer M. Thilagabama, who is said to be part of the Anbumani camp, told ThePrint that it was a family dispute and would be resolved soon. “Just because a father scolds a son, it does not mean that there is no relationship between them. Both of them are selfless people and they would definitely join together for a common cause and that common cause would be the welfare of the party and its workers,” he said.

ThePrint also reached Anbumani, who declined to comment.

Meanwhile, political analysts in Tamil Nadu ThePrint spoke to were of the opinion that the tussle in PMK would end when the elections come closer.

Political analyst Raveendran Duraisamy said the leaders know their strength electorally and would not let that weaken because of their rivalry. “Only if father and son are together, will they have negotiating power and seek more seats. Both must be aware of it and the tug-of-war would subside during seat-sharing talks or in the course of discussing the alliance.”

‘Anbumani is not PMK president’

The petition filed before the high court claims that Anbumani’s tenure as president of PMK ended on 28 May, 2025. “The appointment of key office functionaries in the party is done by the founder on the advice of the chief administrative committee, state executive committee and the state general body as per the party’s bylaws,” reads the petition.

It adds that Ramadoss was nominated as PMK president on 30 May after end of tenure of Anbumani, and that the founder of the party is the sole authority to appoint and organise meetings in his own capacity.

According to the petition, several complaints have been filed against Anbumani with the police and Election Commission seeking action against his “illegal activities”.

Speaking to reporters Thursday, Ramadoss, however, asserted he did not want to take action against Anbumani. “We cannot take a decision like that all of a sudden,” he said.

How spat began

The spat between the father and son began during the special general council meeting of the PMK held in late December 2024, over the appointment of Ramadoss’s grandson P. Mukundan as youth wing president.

At the meeting, while Ramadoss defended his decision to appoint Mukundan, stating that he had the right to make any decision as PMK founder, Anbumani objected, asking how a person who had joined the party just four months earlier could be given such a post.

Five months later, on 29 May, Ramadoss met reporters at his residence in Villupuram and expressed regret over nominating Anbumani as Union Cabinet Minister at the age of 35.

He also accused Anbumani of sparking internal division within the party by disrespecting senior leaders. “Anbumani neither listens to the 19-member executive committee nor allows them to express their views,” he alleged.

In response, Anbumani alleged in July that Tamil Nadu’s ruling DMK and its allies were conspiring to cause trouble within the PMK. Later, on 21 July, Ramadoss suspended three MLAs and a spokesperson supporting Anbumani for “acting against the interest of the party”.

The feud escalated after Ramadoss alleged that his son had planted a bugging device at his residence. He had also filed a complaint with the police in this regard. On 2 August, Ramadoss told reporters that he had hired a special agency to find out who was spying on him.

“If there is a son who spied on his own father, it is Anbumani,” he told reporters. However, advocate K. Balu, a senior PMK leader now believed to be in Anbumani’s camp, denied the allegations.

(Edited by Nida Fatima Siddiqui)