Former Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) MLA R. Arul said on Thursday (July 16) that PMK president Anbumani Ramadoss did not have any leadership qualities.
Mr. Arul, who was known as a strong supporter of PMK founder S. Ramadoss, held a meeting with his supporters and the cadre who supported Dr. Ramadoss in Salem, during which a sheet was given to the participants, asking their choice between joining a party or starting a new one. In the meeting, five resolutions were passed, including the one demanding that the government divide Salem district into three districts for administrative purposes.
“Happy to see Dr. Ramadoss and his son, Anbumani, united again. PMK was founded by Dr. Ramadoss, and he made Dr. Anbumani a Union Minister. But Dr. Anbumani likened the supporters of Dr. Ramadoss to a drain. Dr. Anbumani asked us many times to join his faction, but we (Dr. Ramadoss supporters) stand behind the party founder. The vote percentage of PMK was reduced to 2.1% from 5.2%. We are unable to understand the silence of Dr. Ramadoss,” Mr. Arul said.
Alleging that there were no leadership qualities in Dr. Anbumani, Mr. Arul added: “We will not accept Dr. Anbumani as our leader.”
Mr. Arul said they travelled with Dr. Ramadoss for the past 37 years, and when he renounced politics, they held a meeting with his supporters. “We asked their views on whether to start a new party or to join other parties. All parties, including the AIADMK and the DMK, invited us to join their party and the doors of the ruling TVK, too, opened for us. We will go through the views of the participants in the meeting and will make a decision soon,” Mr. Arul added.
Published – July 16, 2026 08:53 pm IST
