Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) founder S Ramadoss on Thursday declared himself the President of the party -- overthrowing his son Anbumani Ramadoss from the post. Ramadoss’s self-declaration came as a rare political coup in the history of Tamil Nadu where a father overthrew his son from the party leadership.
Anbumani Ramadoss, the former union health minister will now be the working president of the party while G.K.Mani will be the honorary president. Addressing a press conference at his Thailapuram residence near Villupuram, Ramadoss senior said, “In view of the 2026 Assembly elections in the State, I take charge as the president of the party and appoint Anbumani Ramadoss as the working president of the party.” The 85-year-old veteran leader informed the media that the decision was taken to prepare the youngsters for the upcoming elections in 2026.
It all began four months ago when the father and son duo engaged in a verbal fight on the dias during the party meeting. On December 28, 2024, during the general council meeting of the party, senior Ramadoss announced the name of his grandson P.Mukundan for the post of party’s youth wing secretary. Anbumani opposed this decision in the open meeting. Mukundan is the son of Ramadoss’s elder daughter Gandhimathi and nephew of Anbumani.
Ramadoss replied that PMK was founded by him and that he has the right to appoint anyone at any position he deems fit. But as president of the party, Anbumani walked out saying that he would launch his own office at Panaiyur and would be available for meetings with the party cadres.
Ramadoss’s self-declaration today in front of the media led to a speculation of a possible split in the party. The difference of opinion between father and son in a host of issues - running the party, future plans, electoral alliances, etc. In fact, in 2024 while the father wanted to forge an alliance with the AIADMK, the son chose to stay in the NDA. PMK eventually lost all the seats it contested.
The decision to remove Anbumani from the party leadership came just hours before BJP leader and home minister Amit Shah could land in Chennai to discuss with various stakeholders the possible political equations in the state. PMK which was founded as the Vanniyar Sangam by Ramadoss in the 1980s wields a strong influence among the Vanniyars, the dominant community in North and parts of West Tamil Nadu.
Since it came into being a political party in the early 90s, PMK had always switched sides from either being with the DMK or the AIADMK in alliance. Being opportunistic in 2016 it contested alone with the slogan ‘Anbumani for CM’ only to increase the party’s strength.
