PMK founder S. Ramadoss and president Anbumani Ramadoss taking part at the Vanniyar Youth Conference held at Mahabalipuram in May 2025. There is no end in sight to the stand-off between the two leaders.
| Photo Credit: B. VELANKANNI RAJ
After PMK president Anbumani Ramadoss’s mother visited his Panaiyur residence on Tuesday, sources in the party were hoping for an end to the stand-off between PMK founder S. Ramadoss and Dr. Anbumani, if there was some give-and-take.
However, sources close to Dr. Anbumani said the protest planned in Villupuram for July 20 is likely to prevent any chance of rapprochement because 50,000 workers are being mobilised. The protest is to highlight the DMK government’s failure to implement 10.5% reservation for the Vanniyars within the MBC quota. Incidentally, Dr. Ramadoss’s residence is located at Thailapuram in Villupuram district.
‘Fatigue has set in’
Speaking to The Hindu, sources close to Dr. Ramadoss and Dr. Anbumani said fatigue had set in among the party cadre because of the feud, and this could affect the party’s performance in the 2026 Assembly election.
“However, the protest against the DMK government would be huge. In 1995, Dr. Ramadoss declared that the then DMK president, M. Karunanidhi, would be the next Chief Minister and presented him with a yellow shawl at Villupuram. Thirty-five years later, his son Dr. Anbumani will demand the ouster of the DMK and Karunanidhi’s son, M.K. Stalin, from power for their failure to implement the internal reservation for the Vanniyars,” PMK spokesperson K. Balu said.
Ending the impasse
Another senior PMK leader close to Dr. Ramadoss said he hoped Dr. Anbumani would step back. “Who is going to be the biggest loser if the party’s vote share dwindles and voters switch to other parties? It is going to be Dr. Anbumani who is the future of this party,” he said.
It is believed that the women’s conference, announced by Dr. Ramadoss for August 10 at Poompuhar, would help to end the impasse.
Published – July 15, 2025 10:36 pm IST
