In an escalation of the power struggle within the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK), party president Anbumani Ramadoss led a protest in Tamil Nadu’s Villupuram district on July 20, widely seen as an open challenge to his father and party founder, Dr S Ramadoss, in his political bastion.
The protest against the state government is regarding the 10.5% internal reservations for Vanniyars. It is being held near the Villupuram district collectorate.
In 2021, the Tamil Nadu Assembly, led at the time by the AIADMK, had passed a bill providing 10.5% internal reservation for Vanniyars. When the DMK came to power, an order to implement the reservation was issued. However, in 2022, this was struck down by the Supreme Court.
PMK spokesperson and Anbumani loyalist K Balu told IANS that the protest would be led by Anbumani himself, who will address the gathering of cadres. However, the choice of Villupuram and particularly its proximity to Thailapuram – the hometown of S Ramadoss – has added a political edge to the event.
Senior leaders in the party acknowledge that the protest doubles as a show of strength by Anbumani in a district that has historically remained loyal to his father. Despite the venue being just an hour from Thailapuram, Ramadoss is likely to skip the event, highlighting the widening rift between the two.
The internal conflict within PMK has become increasingly public over the past year, with Anbumani attempting to assert full control over the party, while Ramadoss continues to command the loyalty of key district leaders and grassroots cadres, especially in Villupuram and surrounding regions.
In May, speaking at a tell-all press conference, Ramadoss accused Anbumani of derailing the PMK’s prospects and bringing disgrace on the party. Earlier, father and son locked horns over the appointment of Ramadoss’s grandson and Anbumani’s nephew, Mukundan, as the party’s youth wing secretary.
During the May press meet, Ramadoss revealed that he had wanted to align with the AIADMK during the 2024 general elections, adding that it was due to pressure from Anbumani that the PMK had allied with the BJP instead. At the time, Ramadoss also said the PMK would have performed better if they had joined hands with the AIADMK.
A source in the Anbumani camp reportedly told IANS that “Dr Ramadoss is effectively running a parallel party in Villupuram.” Though Mailam MLA C Sivakumar has thrown his weight behind Anbumani, most senior functionaries and long-time workers in the district remain aligned with Ramadoss.
“If today’s protest draws massive participation, it will mark a turning point in Anbumani’s efforts to consolidate power,” a district-level leader told IANS.
Inputs IANS