Chennai: Family feud within the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) top leadership was out in the open at its special general council meeting held in Puducherry on Saturday over the anointing of the party founder S Ramadoss’s grandson P Mukundan to the post of youth wing president with his son Anbumani Ramadoss expressing his displeasure.
Ironically, decades ago, Ramadoss had infamously said he could be flogged publicly if any member of his family joins the PMK or holds any position. About two decades ago, he had brought Anbumani into politics and got him a berth in the Manmohan Singh led Union Cabinet as Health Minister. In the last Lok Sabha polls, he fielded Anbumani’s wife Sowmiya as a candidate in Dharmapuri. Earlier, Anbumani was appointed the party president.
On Saturday, Ramadoss declared that Mukundan, born to his eldest daughter Gandhimathi, was being appointed party youth wing president and he will of assistance to Anbumani. While Mukundan was not around, Anbumani immediately took the mic and disapproved of his father’s decision. “I don’t need any assistance. Someone who came to the party just four months ago is being appointed youth wing president. Are there not any experienced hands?”
An angry Ramadoss retorted, “I founded this party. What I say is the final word here. I have appointed Mukundan as youth wing president. This is it. Those who don’t agree are free to leave the party.”
While the party functionaries were rattled by the open feud between the father and son, the latter ignored the party founder’s announcement and instead rose to make an unrelated statement about his new office on the outskirts of Chennai where cadres could meet him.
Ramadoss thereafter reiterated his decision and underscored that he founded the party and the meeting ended abruptly before party senior leader G K Mani could complete his vote of thanks.
