Anbumani Hits Back Amid PMK Turmoil, Says DMK Behind Internal Discord

Amid the deepening leadership crisis within the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK), party president Anbumani Ramadoss on Monday (16 June) directly accused the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) of attempting to destabilise the party from within.

Addressing the Kancheepuram Revenue District General Council meeting, he insisted the internal rift was not caused by him or his father, S Ramadoss, but by “external interference.”

Just days earlier, Anbumani had publicly sought forgiveness from his father—an emotional gesture that set the stage for his latest remarks: “If Ayya (Ramadoss) is angry with me, I sincerely ask for his forgiveness. There is nothing big in apologising to father.”

Meanwhile, Ramadoss convened a separate meeting, highlighting the party’s deepening divide, and appointed Murali Shankar as the new general secretary.

According to a report by The New Indian Express, Anbumani told cadres in Kancheepuram, “The chief minister is rattled by the momentum our party has gained. The DMK is the root cause of the ongoing confusion. They are trying to divide us from within and weaken the party.” He added that certain individuals within the PMK were involved and warned that their names would be known soon.

He also declared, “The DMK’s conspiracy will not succeed. My silence should not be mistaken for weakness – it is my strength.” Responding indirectly to criticism from his father, he stated, “If I ever betray the PMK, that will be the last day of my political life.”

Reiterating his stance on internal reservation for the Vanniyar community, Anbumani accused the DMK of misleading the community for four years with the promise of 10.5 per cent internal reservation. He reminded party cadres of his firm position at the Mahabalipuram conference, where he had declared, “Not a single Vanniyar should vote for the DMK,” citing the party in power's betrayal on the reservation issue.

Describing the current government as authoritarian, Anbumani concluded that the DMK regime’s days were “numbered.”

As the party grapples with these challenges, senior leaders have yet to comment on the prospects for reconciliation between father and son.

Also Read : Father Vs Son In PMK: S Ramadoss Says It Was A Mistake To Make Anbumani A Union Minister, Blames Him For BJP Tie-Up