PMK Alliance Mystery Ends Today? Ramadoss Likely to Reveal Stand for Tamil Nadu Elections

With the Tamil Nadu Assembly election scheduled for April 23, political activity across the state has intensified as parties move toward finalising alliances, seat-sharing arrangements and campaign strategies. A key development expected on Sunday is the announcement by PMK founder S. Ramadoss on the party’s alliance for the upcoming polls.

The elections will be held not only in Tamil Nadu but also in Puducherry, Kerala, West Bengal and Assam, making the current phase of political negotiations crucial for regional parties. In Tamil Nadu, the ruling DMK-led alliance is working to retain power, while the opposition AIADMK–BJP bloc is attempting to mount a strong challenge.

Amid this backdrop, the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) finds itself in the middle of a leadership rift that has complicated its electoral strategy. The party appears divided between founder S. Ramadoss and his son, former Union minister Anbumani Ramadoss, leading to uncertainty over its political alignment.

Anbumani Ramadoss has continued to maintain proximity with the AIADMK–BJP alliance, while S. Ramadoss has so far refrained from formally declaring the party’s electoral partner. The delay has fuelled speculation about whether the senior leader might explore other alliances.

S. Ramadoss is also engaged in a legal battle over the PMK’s “mango” election symbol, which has become another point of contention within the party. In recent weeks, he has publicly levelled several allegations against Anbumani Ramadoss, further deepening the internal divide.

Responding to the rift, Anbumani Ramadoss has accused the DMK of attempting to create divisions within the party and the Ramadoss family, claiming political interference was responsible for the ongoing dispute.

Efforts by senior leaders and intermediaries to broker peace between the father and son have not yielded results so far. As a result, the PMK’s final decision on alliances has remained uncertain, despite intense lobbying from major political blocs.

Sources in the opposition AIADMK camp had hoped that S. Ramadoss would eventually align with their alliance, but recent developments suggest that such expectations may not materialise. There had also been speculation about the possibility of the PMK joining either the DMK-led front or actor Vijay’s newly launched Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam. However, resistance from some parties within the DMK alliance, particularly the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), reportedly complicated those discussions.

The suspense surrounding the PMK’s political move may finally end today. Speaking at a PMK meeting in Thanjavur, Gandhimathi Ramadoss said that S. Ramadoss would formally announce the party’s alliance decision on March 16.

“The alliance that Ramadoss announces today will become the winning alliance in the upcoming Assembly elections and will form the government,” she told party workers.

With the campaign season gathering momentum, the PMK’s decision could influence the political arithmetic in several constituencies across northern Tamil Nadu, where the party traditionally holds significant influence. Political observers say the announcement may reshape alliance dynamics just weeks before voters head to the polls.