Anbumani didn’t visit me when I was hospitalised in Chennai: Ramadoss

VILLUPURAM: PMK founder S Ramadoss, 86, exercised his democratic right by casting his postal ballot at his Thailapuram farmhouse on Friday. Ramadoss was assisted by a team of polling officers and a videographer. Later, while speaking to the reporters, Ramadoss expressed deep hurt that neither Anbumani nor his family had visited him during his recent hospitalisation in Apollo Hospitals, Chennai, despite being just kilometres away.

"They are merely waiting for my end to take full control," he lamented.

Ramadoss fainted during a campaign in Salem on Sunday (April 12) and was admitted to Apollo Hospitals. He was discharged on Thursday. He reflected on his long political journey and a specific personal vow he had made decades ago. "I deeply regret that I could not keep the promise I made to the people that my family members would not foray into politics," he remarked.

Initially founded on the principle of anti-dynastic politics, PMK eventually saw Anbumani rise to the position of Union health minister and later the party’s president. Ramadoss’s admission suggests a moment of introspection regarding the ideological shifts the party has undergone since its inception.

He accused Anbumani of being driven by "responsibility-free" ambition and a desire to "usurp" the party. He further accused Anbumani’s wife, Sowmiya Anbumani, of fuelling the division to "bask in the ruins of the family."

Ramadoss was flanked by his daughter, Srikanthi, and grandson, Mukundan, who both stood in his defence.

Srikanthi labelled Anbumani the "first traitor" of the party, alleging he had isolated their father for personal gain. "My parents’ happiness is all we want; Anbumani is not a 'good son' and has failed to even attend their 60th wedding anniversary," she said.

Mukundan challenged Anbumani and Sowmiya to a public debate, potentially even using a lie detector. He alleged that Anbumani had offered him an MLA seat and promised to cover all expenses, which he rejected. "They want the name and the symbol of Ayya (Ramadoss), but they don’t want Ayya," Mukundan remarked.

With the Tamil Nadu assembly elections just five days away, this internal explosion within the PMK is expected to create significant ripples in the northern districts. As the Dravidian majors and other alliances watch closely, the split in the PMK’s traditional vote bank could become a deciding factor in several key constituencies.

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