PMK trouble: Anbumani convenes general council meetings in 10 districts

CHENNAI: The leadership crisis in PMK intensified on Tuesday as a defiant Anbumani Ramadoss sacked a district secretary and announced general council meetings in 10 districts from June 15. Meanwhile, party founder S Ramadoss replaced numerous district secretaries and state-level office-bearers, including legal wing president K Balu, who sided with Anbumani.

Anbumani’s announcement is seen as an act of defiance against his father’s authority. A statement captioned, “PMK headquarters announcement,” posted by Anbumani on his official X handle, said the meetings, beginning with Tiruvallur and Chengalpet, will focus on membership drive, booth committee formation and party development.

“Anbumani will attend all meetings as a special invitee,” the statement said. Adding to the tension, Anbumani designated his former residence in T Nagar in Chennai as the PMK headquarters. The meetings will be attended by district presidents, secretaries, office-bearers and special invitees, all aimed at strengthening Anbumani’s position in the party.

Ramadoss has replaced a significant number of party office-bearers. Until Tuesday, he had replaced 49 district secretaries and 27 presidents.

This includes removing Balu from the post of legal wing president. Balu had stood by Ramadoss in numerous legal battles for more than two decades. Ramadoss replaced him with advocate V S Gopu. “I was commended by our Ayya (Ramadoss) multiple times. I will continue to work as a cadre for the party’s growth under the leadership of Anbumani,” Balu told TOI.

The family feud escalated when Karur district secretary Baskaran was sacked by Anbumani. Baskaran had earlier taken to social media to ask how Anbumani, who was a mere ‘working president’ could sack functionaries. Later, Baskaran met senior Ramadoss at his Thailapuram farmhouse near Tindivanam on Tuesday. Talking to reporters after the meeting, Baskaran quoted Ramadoss as saying he would continue as the Karur district secretary. “Ayya (Ramadoss) said no one except him can sack party functionaries,” Baskaran said.

Rule 13 of PMK’s bylaws stipulates that the party founder should be invited to the general council and executive committee meetings, and these meetings should be conducted under his guidance. Rule 15 states that the party president, elected by the general council, will preside over these meetings and manage the party’s finances, assets and bank accounts along with the general secretary and treasurer.

The ugly face-off between father and son has been out in the open for the past few months. Ramadoss demoted Anbumani from the post of PMK president to working president, while Anbumani asserted that he remains the president, arguing that only the party’s general council had the authority to remove or appoint any functionary. Anbumani’s general council of Kancheepuram and Ranipet districts will meet on June 16, Vellore and Tirupattur districts on June 17, Tiruvannamalai and Kallakurichi districts on June 18, and Salem and Dharmapuri districts on June 19.