Attempts to resolve stand-off with Anbumani failed: PMK founder Ramadoss

Failed attempts to reconcile PMK founder Dr. S. Ramadoss and son Anbumani Ramadoss, leading to leadership dispute till 2026.

Attempts to bring about a patch-up between PMK founder Dr. S. Ramadoss and his son Anbumani Ramadoss have failed yet again.

Addressing a press conference at his Thailapuram residence in Villupuram district, Dr. Ramadoss said he would continue to lead the party till the 2026 Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu. He wondered if he did not have the right to lead the party for another one or two years.

Mr. Ramadoss, who had earlier declared himself the party president and demoted his son as “working president”, stated that a disciple can be a bit better off than his guru but a son cannot override his father. It will be against all the tenets of dharma.

Stating that several rounds of talks were made to resolve the stand-off between him and his son, Mr. Ramadoss said all the efforts had come a cropper. He recalled that a fortnight before the party’s conference at Mamallapuram, he (Ramadoss) was even ready to step down from the post of ‘president’.

“But, Mr. Anbumani did not repose any faith in my promise. He also told that I was not reliable and I must give everything in writing to make it believable. Now a situation has come where we have to settle whether it is Anbumani or me,” he said.

Mr. Ramadoss said the status quo will continue till the 2026 Assembly polls. “Our aim is that the party should be able to garner as many as 50 seats in the Assembly elections. This will also strengthen the alliance,” he said, adding he would not resort to any step of expelling Mr. Anbumani from the primary membership of the party.

He regretted that he had committed a mistake of poking his eyes with his own fingers. Those who made me a “walking corpse” are now taking a padayatra in my name, he said.