I represent PMK, Ramadoss’ group a breakaway faction: Anbumani tells Madras High Court

Anbumani Ramadoss asserts legal representation of PMK in Madras High Court, claiming his father leads a breakaway faction.

Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) founder S. Ramadoss’ estranged son Anbumani Ramadoss on Monday (February 2, 2026) claimed before the Madras High Court that only he represents the political party legally and that the group rallying behind his father was only a breakaway faction, which could not be considered as the party.

Appearing before the first Division Bench of Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava and Justice G. Arul Murugan, senior counsel N.L. Rajah, representing Dr. Anbumani, said, his father was trying to “snatch an order from the court behind his (Dr. Anbumani) back” without making his client a party to the case.

The submissions were made during the hearing of a writ petition filed by the party founder seeking a direction to the Election Commission of India (ECI) and the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) in Tamil Nadu to communicate the allotment of the ‘mango’ symbol to the party for this year’s Assembly election to his official address in Chennai.

Since the founder had made only the ECI and the CEO as respondents to the writ petition, the Chief Justice’s Bench refused to hear the submissions made by the senior counsel representing Dr. Anbumani. “Mr. Rajah, how can we give you audience when you are not a party here?” the Chief Justice asked.

“Exactly that is what I am saying MiLord, that an order is being attempted to be snatched behind my back. I am the party, they are a breakaway faction. What I am saying is that this writ petition [filed in the name of the PMK, represented by its founder] is not maintainable at all without my presence,” the senior counsel replied.

However, the Chief Justice said: “We do not know. You are alien to these proceedings. We can’t hear you now. If you want to become a party to these proceedings, move an application.” After Mr. Rajah agreed to file an application, the judges ordered notices, returnable within three weeks, to the ECI and CEO in the writ petition.