Has the rift between Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) founder Dr S Ramadoss and his son Dr Anbumani Ramadoss reached a point of no return? This is the latest buzz within the PMK and Tamil Nadu’s political circles after Ramadoss launched a scathing attack on his son on Thursday, May 29. Ramadoss accused Anbumani of forcing him to align with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and said making him a minister in the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) in 2004 was a big mistake.
Ramadoss’s outburst at a press conference, where he levelled serious allegations against Anbumani Ramadoss and his wife Sowmiya Anbumani, has given rise to speculation that the PMK is heading for a split.
Sources in the PMK told TNM that the internal feud between Ramadoss and Anbumani Ramadoss arose due to family-related issues and later continued in the form of personal and political differences between the father and son. “This has been going on for quite some time within the family, and it is now spilling out in public,” the source added.
On May 29, Dr. Ramadoss began his weekly press conference by saying that it was a mistake to have made Anbumani Ramadoss an Union minister at the age of 35. “Anbumani Ramadoss is trying to portray me as an accused and gain sympathy from party workers. I have to respond to these allegations and I am left with no other option but to reveal everything in public. Anbumani lacks leadership qualities.” Ramadoss said at his Thailapuram residence in Tindivanam, in Villupuram district.
In the one-and-a-half-hour press conference, Ramadoss accused Anbumani Ramadoss of derailing the prospects of the party and bringing disgrace to it. “It all started with Anbumani’s behaviour at the general council meeting, where I wanted to appoint Mukunthan (grandson of Ramadoss) as the youth wing secretary. Anbumani opposed it openly and threw the mic on the table, which could have hit my head. Is it the right thing to do?” Ramadoss asked.
Ramadoss then went on to reveal the difference of opinion between him and Anbumani Ramadoss over alliances. “My idea was to align with the AIADMK for the 2024 general elections, and Anbumani spoke to EPS and confirmed the same. But at the last minute, Anbumani and his wife Sowmya came to my residence and held my feet and insisted on joining the BJP alliance. I had no other choice but to agree,” he said.
“This move was decided by Anbumani Ramadoss and now I am being blamed for the setback,” he added. Ramadoss went on to say that if the AIADMK-PMK alliance had continued, they would have won at least three Lok Sabha seats and AIADMK would have won more than seven seats.
Ramadoss also accused Anbumani Ramadoss of throwing a bottle at his mother when she questioned him about giving the youth wing secretary post to his daughter.
The tell-all press conference by Dr Ramadoss has divided the rank and file of the party. On Friday, both Dr Ramadoss and Anbumani Ramadoss held meetings with functionaries of the PMK. The meeting called by Anbumani Ramadoss was attended by 22 district secretaries but senior functionaries of the party stayed away.
Similarly, Dr Ramadoss held discussions with former district secretaries and old-timers of the party and has been preparing a list to be appointed as functionaries of the party at all levels, sources said.
Recently, Anbumani Ramadoss was removed as the president of the PMK and was appointed as the ‘working president’. Ramadoss declared that he will continue as the president. However, the Anbumani Ramadoss camp claims that the Election Commission of India has recognised him as the party president and his removal from the post by Ramadoss will not have an effect on his position legally.
TNM spoke to senior functionaries of the PMK, who said efforts by senior members of the party to bring about a truce did not yield any results, as both sides are adamant. “Family members too held talks hoping to put an end to the ongoing tussle, but nothing has materialised so far,” the source added.
Political observer and senior journalist Loganathan, who has been tracking PMK for more than two decades, told TNM that Ramadoss is considered as a central figure of the Vanniyar community and any attempt to sideline him will not be taken kindly by them.
Dr Ramadoss launched Vanniyar Sangam in 1980 and spearheaded a massive agitation seeking reservation for the Vanniyar community in education and employment. The agitation brought Northern Tamil Nadu to a standstill for a week with major highways being blocked, trees felled, houses of Dalits being burnt resulting in the killing of 21 people in police firing.
As a result of the agitation the then DMK government led by M Karunanidhi granted Most Backward Caste (MBC) status for Vanniyars. In 1989, Ramadoss launched a caste based political party PMK to represent the interests of Vanniyar community.
Recalling his contribution towards building PMK, Ramadoss said he had to face insults when he used to visit villages to build the organisation. He was able to handle the abuses and humiliation keeping in mind the welfare of the people. “Today the way he is being treated in the party has left him shattered,” he added.
Loganathan said the family feud will have an impact on the electoral prospects of the PMK. “Without Ramadoss, Anbumani will not be able to earn the recognition of allies.”
As confusion over leadership persists within the PMK, potential allies are unable to decide whom to approach for initiating talks. An AIADMK leader told TNM that EPS wanted to finalise the alliance by June with PMK and now it looks unlikely. “We have asked PMK leaders to decide and tell us on how they initiate the talks,” he added.