Anbumani and his wife 'forced' BJP-PMK alliance on me, alleges Ramadoss

In a fiery press conference at his Thailapuram residence near Tindivanam, Ramadoss levelled serious allegations against Anbumani, describing his actions as akin to “a nurtured goat kicking the chest of its caretaker”.

'Gravest mistake'

Ramadoss expressed regret over appointing Anbumani as a Union Minister at the age of 35 years, calling it his “first and gravest mistake”.

He accused Anbumani of lacking leadership qualities and undermining the party’s growth through reckless behavior. “I made a grave error by going against my principles to make him a minister. Anbumani has played a dangerous game, attempting to distract the public and party cadre with sympathy tactics,” Ramadoss charged.

Also read: PMK youth wing chief Mukundan resigns amid family tensions, backs Anbumani

The PMK founder alleged that during a Pongal celebration, Anbumani had allegedly attempted to assault his own mother when she questioned the appointment of Mukundan, Ramadoss’s grandson, as the youth wing president.

“He threw an object at her, and fortunately, it missed. This is just one example of his many mistakes,” Ramadoss alleged, adding that Anbumani’s actions have caused significant unrest within the party.

Disrespecting party elders

Ramadoss also criticised Anbumani’s conduct at a recent PMK general council meeting in Puducherry, accusing him of lacking decorum and disrespecting party elders.

“He threw the microphone on the table as if he were aiming at my head. Is this the behaviour of a leader? He insulted his guru and tried to attack his mother,” Ramadoss alleged, emphasising that he has evidence to support his claims.

The veteran leader further claimed that Anbumani obstructed party functionaries from attending meetings and tried to prevent senior leader Tamilkumaran from participating in the general council.

Also read: Anbumani Ramadoss skips PMK meeting amid growing rift with father

“I toiled without food or water, campaigning in villages to build PMK. Anbumani has tarnished the party’s dignity, which has been nurtured with duty, decorum, and discipline,” he lamented.

Strategic differences

The rift, which first surfaced publicly in December 2024 during a stormy general council meeting, deepened when Ramadoss sidelined Anbumani as party president in April 2025, assuming the role himself and designating Anbumani as “working president”.

The move, Ramadoss claimed, was made to strengthen the party for the upcoming elections. However, Anbumani’s supporters, including party treasurer M Thilagabama, have called the decision a “gross misstep”, rallying behind the younger leader.

The conflict has also been fuelled by strategic differences, with Ramadoss favouring an alliance with the AIADMK for the 2026 assembly polls, while Anbumani pushes for continuing with the BJP-led NDA.

Ramadoss claimed that Anbumani, and daughter-in-law, Sowmiya Anbumani, coerced him into forming an alliance with the BJP for the parliamentary elections. Ramadoss alleged that Anbumani threatened to take his own life if the alliance with BJP was not agreed upon, leaving him with no choice but to relent.

Fight over alliance partners

Speaking to the media, Ramadoss said that he had initially advocated for an alliance with the AIADMK. He had even written a letter to AIADMK leader Edappadi K Palaniswami, urging Anbumani to hold discussions with him.

Also read: In TN, father-son face-offs fuel power struggles in both MDMK and PMK

According to Ramadoss, talks were initiated, and AIADMK’s CVe Shanmugam also engaged in negotiations. “If we had allied with AIADMK, PMK could have won at least three seats, and AIADMK could have secured six to seven seats. The AIADMK-PMK alliance was a natural fit,” Ramadoss stated.

However, Ramadoss alleged that Anbumani abruptly insisted on aligning with the BJP, disregarding the ongoing talks with AIADMK. “Anbumani held one of my legs, and Sowmiya held the other, pleading and crying for a BJP alliance. Anbumani even said, ‘If you don’t agree to this, you’ll have to light my funeral pyre.’ I was left speechless,” Ramadoss recounted.

He further claimed that Sowmiya had already made arrangements with then BJP state president K Annamalai, and the alliance was finalised without his knowledge. “The next morning, I heard chants of ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai,’ and Annamalai was at my doorstep. This is how the alliance was formed,” he added.

Deepening divide

The low attendance at a recent meeting called by Ramadoss, where only 13 of 230 invited leaders showed up, underscores the deepening divide within the party.

Senior journalist T Ramakrishnan emphasised that the clash mirrors a broader trend in Indian politics, where family dynamics often shape party leadership.

He said, "With Ramadoss asserting his authority and Anbumani’s loyalists standing firm, the party is at a critical juncture as Tamil Nadu’s political landscape heats up.” He also cited examples of how twenty years ago, National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah handed over the reins to his son Omar, stepping back from active interference.

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

“Similarly, leaders like Mulayam Singh Yadav and Akhilesh Yadav in the Samajwadi Party, and HD Deve Gowda and HD Kumaraswamy in the Janata Dal (Secular), have navigated generational transitions, often with tensions but rarely with public feuds of this magnitude. Ramadoss could take a leaf from such examples, offering counsel only when sought, allowing Anbumani to lead," suggested Ramakrishnan.

Power struggle

Anbumani’s supporters argued that Ramadoss junior is frustrated by a faction within the PMK still loyal to his father, limiting his authority as the designated leader.

"With PMK commanding a crucial 4-5 per cent vote share, primarily among the Vanniyar community, a divided party risks electoral irrelevance. This feud, devoid of ideological differences, is purely a power struggle that could fracture the party’s base," Ramakrishnan said.