PMK Power Shift: Ramadoss Reclaims Presidency from Anbumani Ahead of 2026 Tamil Nadu Elections

Party founder S. Ramadoss and PMK president Anbumani Ramadoss at a meeting with party cadre in Salem in Tamil Nadu in January 2025. 
| Photo Credit: LAKSHMI NARAYANAN E / THE HINDU

Hours before the Chennai touch down of Union Home Minister and the BJP’s de facto boss, Amit Shah, the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) founder S. Ramadoss “demoted” his son, Anbumani, from the post of president to that of working president. He declared himself the president, under powers delegated to him as the party’s founder. Long-time confidant, G.K. Mani, continues as honorary president.

Reading out a note to the media, Ramadoss said the decision was made “Taking into consideration the 2026 Assembly election”. He added that he had drawn up a series of action plans, which required “changes in the party’s administrative set up”. Apart from being the founder, he will be taking over as the party president, he announced, “To ensure that all work hard and win in the coming election”. Anbumani will be appointed as working president, and these changes will take effect immediately.

The “demotion” will hit the party hard, K.S. Radhakrishnan, a seasoned Dravidian politician, told Frontline. “Young people look up to Anbumani: He speaks their language, dresses like a young icon and represents a newer generation in the party”.

Also Read | Ramadoss-Anbumani face off as PMK’s general council meeting turns stormy

The older generation that supported Ramadoss and were involved in building the movement and later the party, will continue to support him, said the veteran, adding, “His support base will be about 60 per cent of the party. The younger leaders and cadre, who constitute about 40 per cent of the party, are with Anbumani”. He believes however, that “a compromise will be worked out by family members”.

Alliances for 2026

Ramadoss is clear that he wants the PMK not to commit to an alliance at this point, when there is about a year to go for the 2026 Assembly election. Alliances in the State are yet to firm up, and the AIADMK has not yet decided whether it will fight the election in the company of the BJP. The DMK-led alliance is intact, and unless the Opposition parties come together, dislodging it will be an uphill task.

Differences between father and son first surfaced ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha election, when Ramadoss wanted an alliance with the AIADMK, while Anbumani wanted to go with the BJP. The AIADMK had parted ways with the BJP and it strongly hoped for the PMK in its corner. All three parties had fought the 2021 Tamil Nadu Assembly election as part of an alliance and the PMK had managed to win five seats.

This was also the point of friction between Ramadoss and Anbumani at the party’s December 2024 General Council meeting, when the family feud took place dramatically, on stage, over the appointment of yet another member of the Ramadoss family as head of the youth wing. Ramadoss at that time had taken a backseat in party matters for over half-a-decade, and Anbumani had led the party in the past few elections. The differences between the father and son were later mended by G.K. Mani and a few party seniors.

Also Read | PMK founder digs in with youth wing president choice

But the latest decision has created greater speculation over what prompted it. A source told Frontline that Ramadoss senior was distraught on April 9, after learning from another senior party leader that Anbumani was keen to secure another term in the Rajya Sabha and was willing to make a few sacrifices. Anbumani’s supporters, however, claim that this was not true. It is a fact, though, that Anbumani’s tenure in the Rajya Sabha ends in July 2025, and Amit Shah is scheduled to meet alliance partners when in Chennai.

Even several hours after the announcement, Anbumani has not changed his profile on X. It says in both English and Tamil: “MP-Rajya Sabha, President—PMK, former Union Health Minister for Health”. This is no mere oversight: Anbumani had posted on X at 9.32 am on April 10 about problems in the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission’s Group 4 examination, and demanded solutions.

Party insiders believe there is still no chance of a split in the party between father and son as the community would not want such a move.