Former PMK president G.K. Mani launched a strong accusation on Tuesday, stating that the party’s recent change of permanent and registered address was a deliberate act of deception. He claimed the shift from its traditional Teynampet office in Chennai to Tilak Street – notably, the residence of PMK founder S. Ramadoss’s estranged son, Anbumani – was an elaborate scheme to mislead the public.
Addressing reporters in Thailapuram, near Tindivanam, Mani revealed that while the Election Commission of India (ECI) had officially granted the ‘mango’ symbol to the PMK, the listed permanent address was Tilak Street. This revelation, he asserted, deeply shocked both the party’s founder and its dedicated members.
Mani vehemently declared, ‘The party’s official and long-standing headquarters are in Teynampet, Chennai. This unauthorized change is nothing short of an attempt to defraud the public, a clear act of cheating.’ He further noted that a separate ECI letter acknowledged the office-bearers elected at a general council meeting in Mamallapuram, implying a conflict.
The ‘Invalid’ Meeting Controversy
Mani, a staunch supporter of Dr. Ramadoss, questioned the legitimacy of Dr. Anbumani’s actions. He pointed out that Dr. Anbumani’s term as PMK president, which began in 2022, officially concluded on May 28, 2025. ‘Given this, how could Dr. Anbumani legally call for the general council meeting in Mamallapuram at a later date?’ Mani challenged. He emphasized that party bylaws explicitly require the founder’s approval to convene both general and executive councils, thereby rendering the Mamallapuram meeting illegitimate.
The Pennagaram MLA further asserted that on May 29, 2025, the PMK’s administrative committee had unanimously elected Dr. Ramadoss as president. This decision, he added, was subsequently ratified by both the executive council on July 8 and the general council on August 19. Mani firmly concluded, ‘Dr. Ramadoss is the rightful president of the PMK, and that stands as the final word.’
Allegations Strongly Denied
In a swift counter-response, PMK spokesperson K. Balu, a loyalist of Dr. Anbumani, vehemently refuted Mani’s claims. Balu dismissed the allegations as baseless, suggesting they served only to tarnish Dr. Ramadoss’s reputation.
Balu countered by stating that Mani himself held the PMK presidency for 25 years. He clarified that when Dr. Anbumani assumed the presidency in 2022, a formal request was sent to the ECI on June 1, 2022, to update the party’s address to Tilak Street in T. Nagar, Chennai. ‘This T. Nagar location has served as the party’s official headquarters ever since,’ Balu explained. ‘Every statement issued by Dr. Anbumani, all PMK worker identity cards, and all communications from the ECI have consistently used this address.’
Furthermore, Balu highlighted that Rule 13 of the party’s bylaws does not mandate the founder’s approval for decisions made by the general council. He expressed dismay, asking, ‘How can a person who led the PMK for 25 years make such a slanderous and inaccurate statement?’
Balu reiterated his point by referencing the party’s bylaws, clarifying that the founder does not automatically assume the presidency once the incumbent’s term concludes. He elaborated that party administration falls under the purview of the president, general secretary, and treasurer. Finally, he dismissed the opposing faction’s claim that the ECI letter was intended for them, stating, ‘The letter we received explicitly grants the tenure extension we requested. This particular accusation is simply childish.’