CHENNAI/VILLUPURAM: A public spat broke out between PMK founder S Ramadoss and his son Anbumani Ramadoss on Saturday over the appointment of Parasuraman Mukundan, grandson of Ramadoss, as the party’s new youth wing president. Mukundan is the son of Ramadoss’s elder daughter Gandhimathi. When senior Ramadoss announced the appointment of Mukundan at the special general council meeting held at Pattannur in Villupuram district, Anbumani intervened, stating that Mukundan had joined the party only four months ago and lacked the experience to hold the post.
Ramadoss responded by asserting that the party was founded by him and that his decision was final. “Those who don’t adhere to my words cannot continue in the party. Let them quit,” Ramadoss declared and urged the party functionaries present to applaud the appointment of Mukundan. When Ramadoss invited Mukundan to the dais, he did not turn up. GKM Thamizhkumaran, son of party’s honorary president GK Mani, resigned as president of the youth wing last year.
Cadre can meet me at Panaiyur office: Anbumani
The post was previously held by Anbumani Ramadoss himself.
“Those who don’t adhere to my words cannot continue in the party. Let them quit,” Ramadoss declared and urged the party functionaries present to applaud the appointment of Mukundan.
The public spat continued with Anbumani taking the microphone to announce that he had established a party office at Panaiyur. Publicly sharing the office’s telephone number, Anbumani invited party cadres to meet him in the Panaiyur office.
After the general council meeting concluded, Anbumani Ramadoss reached Panaiyur in the evening. PMK sources reported that senior functionaries held discussions with Ramadoss following the incident and were likely to meet Anbumani to pacify him.
Office-bearers and functionaries who participated in the general council meeting sought to downplay the incident, calling it a minor event, and expressed confidence that all issues would be resolved by the evening.
PMK functionaries who attended the meeting told TNIE that they had sensed differences between the father and son even during their separate speeches at the meeting, which culminated in the argument at the end.
During his speech, Ramadoss indicated that the party had erred on alliance issues in the Lok Sabha election. “We have been learning many lessons. Making a mistake once doesn’t mean you have to repeat it. When everyone realises that we have erred, we must tread a new path. In the next general council meeting (which could be held in December 2025), I will announce the path we would take.”
“In the 2026 Assembly elections, the front in which the PMK is a partner will secure power, and a few in this audience will be ministers. I will take care of the alliance for the 2026 Assembly elections,” Ramadoss added.
During his turn, Anbumani Ramadoss made remarks that could be perceived as a response to his father’s assertions. “We cannot say we have erred in any election because every election is an experience. Also, the decision (for the Lok Sabha election) was taken collectively. In the 2016 Assembly elections, our campaign was successful, but the party was defeated. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, we erred because, despite our hard work, we could not succeed,” Anbumani Ramadoss said.
Speaking to TNIE, political analyst Tharasu Shyam said the verbal clash between the top two leaders of the PMK would weaken the party ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections. Furthermore, it would affect the party’s bargaining capacity.
“Though Ramadoss said everything will happen according to his wish, the Election Commission of India will not consider that because, officially, Anbumani Ramadoss is the president of the party, and his decision regarding the PMK would be final.”
Shyam also recalled that when the PMK was launched 35 years ago, Ramadoss had promised that none of his family members would enter politics. However, Anbumani Ramadoss was later groomed in the PMK and became the president of the party in May 2022.