PMK founder Dr S Ramadoss expelled his son Anbumani Ramadoss over management clashes, deepening celebration divisions forward of Tamil Nadu’s 2026 elections and threatening its Vanniyar vote base and alliance prospects.
In a tense escalation within the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK), founder Dr S Ramadoss has formally expelled his son, former Union Minister Anbumani Ramadoss, from the celebration. The transfer, introduced on Thursday, comes after Dr Ramadoss accused Anbumani of indulging in anti-party actions and failing to answer disciplinary notices. Among the many allegations have been 16 counts of misconduct; Anbumani was given notices twice however didn’t reply.
Dr Ramadoss lambasted his son’s management fashion, calling him politically unfit and likening him to “a weed that must be eliminated.” The fallout comes amid Anbumani’s statewide marketing campaign opposing the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) in Tamil Nadu and his plans to declare the PMK’s electoral alliance lineup quickly.
In the meantime, Anbumani’s camp has pushed again, saying his expulsion is invalid, mentioning that his tenure as celebration president was prolonged until August 2026 by a basic council and vested by the Election Fee.
The cut up deepens forward of the 2026 Meeting elections, elevating questions on PMK’s unity, its Vanniyar vote base in northern Tamil Nadu, and the way alliances might be negotiated.
PMK’s origins, ideology and function in Tamil Nadu politics
The Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK), based in 1989 by Dr S Ramadoss, emerged as a political voice for the Vanniyar neighborhood—a dominant caste group in northern and central Tamil Nadu that felt politically under-represented. With the mango as its election image, PMK positioned itself as a regional celebration advocating a mix of caste id politics and social welfare, significantly for the Vanniyars. Over time, it has allied with main Dravidian events and nationwide gamers just like the Bharatiya Janata Celebration (BJP), typically recalibrating based mostly on electoral wants.
Vote share however lingering affect in Vanniyar strongholds
The celebration opened its account within the Lok Sabha for the primary time in 1998 when it aligned itself with the Jayalalithaa-led All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), the BJP, the Vaiko-led Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK), the Tamizhaga Rajiv Congress (TRC) and the Janata Celebration. The celebration acquired round 6 per cent of votes and received 4 seats, together with Vellore, Vandavasi, Chidambaram and Dharmapuri. The PMK was one of many founding members of the BJP-led Nationwide Democratic Alliance (NDA), and Dalit Ezhilmalai grew to become the minister within the Atal Bihari Vajpayee authorities. Within the 1999 Lok Sabha polls, the PMK entered into an alliance with the DMK and received 5 seats. The celebration retained the Vellore, Vandavasi, Chidambaram and Dharmapuri constituencies and received Chengalpattu, a brand new seat. Celebration MPs NT Shanmugam, E Ponnuswamy and AK Moorthy grew to become ministers within the Vajpayee-led Cupboard.
The celebration noticed its peak affect within the early 2000s, profitable 6 Lok Sabha seats (Chengalpattu, Arakkonam, Tindivanam, Chidambaram, Dharmapuri and Puducherry) in 2004, when it was a part of the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA). Anbumani Ramadoss was sworn in because the Minister of Well being and Household Welfare within the Manmohan Singh Cupboard, whereas R Velu grew to become Minister of State (Mos).
The celebration once more joined arms with the AIADMK within the 2009 Lok Sabha polls however could not win a single seat. The PMK remained with the BJP within the 2014, 2019 (with the AIADMK additionally within the alliance) and 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The celebration received only one seat in 2014 when Anbumani received the Dharmapuri parliamentary seat however didn’t open its account within the 2019 and 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
Within the Meeting elections, the PMK acquired 5.89% of votes within the 1991 polls and received the Panruti seat, the place S Ramachandaran emerged victorious. The celebration for the primary time entered into an alliance with any political celebration within the 1996 state polls when it cast a pact with the All India Indira Congress (Tiwari). Nonetheless, the vote share dropped to simply 3.84%, however it managed to win 4 seats, together with Andimadam, Edapadi, Taramangalam and Pennagaram.
Within the 2001 polls, the celebration modified sides and contested polls with the AIADMK, profitable 20 seats with 5.60% of votes. Within the 2006 Tamil Nadu elections, the PMK joined arms with the DMK and nearly retained its tally with 18 seats and 5.70% of votes. Nonetheless, it confronted a significant setback within the 2011 polls, when it was decimated to simply 3 seats in an alliance with the DMK. It acquired 5.20% of votes. The celebration fought the 2016 Tamil Nadu polls by itself and failed miserably. It could not win a single seat after contesting all 234 however retained its vote financial institution with 5.36% of the share. Within the final 2021 state elections, the PMK entered right into a pact with the AIADMK and the BJP and received 5 seats with a vote share of three.80%.
So, it’s clear that when it comes to vote share, the PMK polled round 5-6% in state elections throughout its stronger years. Nonetheless, this has declined over time. Regardless of the dip, it retains affect in Vanniyar-majority districts, although critics argue its caste-centric strategy has deepened social divides, significantly with Dalit communities.
What this feud might imply for Tamil Nadu politics going ahead
Splintering vote financial institution: If the father-son battle leads to factional splits, PMK’s conventional base — the Vanniyars — would possibly see divided loyalties. That might weaken PMK’s affect in northern and central districts throughout state elections.
Alliance negotiations in flux: PMK has been an ally of the BJP underneath the NDA, however the energy wrestle might have an effect on its bargaining energy. Main events could also be cautious of aligning with a celebration in seen inner disarray.
Public notion and credibility: Inner fights, public firing of notices, and contradictory claims of legitimacy might erode belief amongst celebration cadres and voters who anticipate secure management.
Potential management options: The pronouncements by Dr Ramadoss, particularly after the final council, the place he declared himself “founder-president”, and the elevated slant in direction of celebration elders or non-Anbumani management (together with hypothesis about his daughter) counsel prospects of reshuffling or realignment within the PMK management construction.
Electoral impacts in upcoming polls: With Tamil Nadu Meeting elections slated for 2026, this battle would possibly play out in seat sharing, marketing campaign energy, and general vote share. A weakened PMK may benefit rivals (each Dravidian events and newer caste-based events).
As of now, the PMK feud stays unresolved publicly; whether or not Anbumani accepts expulsion or strikes authorized or electoral countermeasures is but to be seen. However for Tamil Nadu’s political panorama, this isn’t a mere household struggle — it has the potential to reshape alliances, voter calculations, and PMK’s standing.