Anbumani is PMK president: EC

The Election Commission has informed PMK founder S Ramadoss that his son Anbumani Ramadoss continues to be the party president as per the documents submitted by the party. The written communication came in response to multiple letters from S Ramadoss urging the Commission to recognise him - and not Anbumani - as the PMK chief.

The father-son tussle for control of the party has been simmering for months. In May this year, S Ramadoss declared himself president and named Anbumani as working president. Since then, both factions have claimed authority over the party's leadership. The EC's clarification has boosted the Anbumani camp, while supporters of S. Ramadoss plan to protest outside the Commission's office in Delhi. PMK MLA G.K. Mani, a key S. Ramadoss loyalist, alleged that the EC accepted "forged documents" extending Anbumani's term as president until August 2026. He said the faction would stage a protest against what it termed an "unjust ruling." Anbumani, meanwhile, said the PMK would join any alliance committed to unseating the DMK government in the next assembly elections. The rift between father and son began when Anbumani pushed to align with NDA.