Anbumani Ramadoss skips PMK meeting amid growing rift with father

In another public display of the growing feud between father and son, PMK working president Anbumani Ramadoss failed to attend a district functionaries meeting convened by PMK president and his father S Ramadoss at Thailapuram near Tindivanam in Tamil Nadu on Friday.

But denying any factional feud in the party and any rift with his son, the senior Ramadoss said a proper invitation had been sent to his son, just like to the other district functionaries.

Also Read: Massive Vanniyar youth meet in Mamallapuram highlights PMK's internal struggles

Sources said although the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) has 110 district secretaries, only about 20 attended the meeting. The absence of the majority of the secretaries has upset senior Ramadoss.

Ramadoss on mass absence

PMK, a caste-based political party in Tamil Nadu, was founded by S Ramadoss in 1989 to represent the Vanniyar caste, mostly found in northern Tamil Nadu. Although the party was a major force in the region until the 2016 Assembly elections, its influence has gradually declined, with junior Ramadoss taking a dominant role in the party.

Briefing the media about the district functionaries failing to attend the meeting, S Ramadoss said a few district secretaries had informed him over the phone that they would not be able to participate. He added that some secretaries couldn't attend due to exhaustion after their participation in the Vanniyar Youth Conference at Mamallapuram on May 11, 2025.

The conference, held after 12 years, saw no interaction between senior and junior Ramadoss, both on and off stage.

Father-son differences

When reporters asked about the absence of junior Ramadoss, despite his position as the "working president" of the party, the senior Ramadoss responded, "A proper invitation was sent to Anbumani to attend this meeting. He might be on the way."

However, party sources confirmed that junior Ramadoss did not arrive at the venue even after several hours and did not call to inform anyone of his absence.

Reacting to statements related to his son’s work for the youth conference, the PMK founder said: “I congratulated a couple of persons who tirelessly worked for the conference despite the heat. I mentioned Anbumani’s name as the working president of the party. I always recognise people who work for the party.”

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‘I won’t quit’

When asked about the differences within the party and the demand from a section of party members for him to retire from politics, the senior Ramadoss responded: “The lion’s legs won’t break. Its rage keeps increasing. I did not speak in the youth conference. I roared there. Our party will fully work for the reservation for Vanniyars. As the founder president, I decide the path the party will take. All district secretaries must work with same dedication. If any district secretaries feel they can’t continue due to exhaustion or health reasons, they will be replaced, as per their wishes,” he said, subtly referencing to his son’s absence.

Speaking about his plans for the Assembly elections, Dr. Ramadoss stated that the party would contest in alliance with other parties and aim to win at least 50 seats.

Assembly elections

“All district secretaries have been asked to put in the necessary effort to achieve this goal. Our party will contest the 2026 elections only in alliance with other parties. We must work hard to win at least 50 seats,” he emphasized.

At the youth conference in Mamallapuram a week ago, he had mentioned that he would make the final decision regarding alliances for the Assembly elections.

Party insiders noted that the differences between father and son deepened over the alliance strategy for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The rift became especially apparent after PMK failed to secure seats in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections when it allied with the BJP.

BJP factor

Junior Anbumani showed a strong preference for aligning with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), contrary to the wishes of senior Ramadoss.

Junior Ramadoss even fielded his wife Soumiya Anbumani as a candidate in the Dharmapuri, only to be defeated by the DMK in an area traditionally dominated by the Vanniyar vote bank.