In a significant shift within the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK), party leader Anbumani Ramadoss has informed Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker M. Appavu that Dharmapuri MLA S.P. Venkateshwaran will step into the role of the party’s floor leader in the House, replacing Pennagaram MLA G.K. Mani.
This decision was communicated to Mr. Appavu on Thursday, September 25, 2025. According to Mr. Anbumani’s letter, the leadership change was a unanimous consensus reached during a meeting of PMK MLAs held in Panaiyur, near Chennai, on September 24. Furthermore, Mettur MLA S. Sadhasivam has been appointed as the new deputy floor leader, and Mailam MLA C. Sivakumar will serve as the party’s whip in the Assembly.
G.K. Mani, the outgoing floor leader, is known to be a strong supporter of PMK founder S. Ramadoss, who currently holds the loyalty of two out of the party’s five MLAs.
During a press briefing at the Secretariat in Chennai, K. Balu, a PMK spokesperson and a staunch supporter of Mr. Anbumani, revealed that an additional letter had been submitted to the Speaker’s office. This correspondence reiterated the party’s prior decision to expel Salem West MLA R. Arul from the PMK and remove him from his position as party whip.
“Mr. Arul should now be regarded solely as an MLA. He has been stripped of all party positions and can no longer be considered a party representative,” Mr. Balu clarified. He also noted that the PMK had provided a copy of the Election Commission of India (ECI) communication officially recognizing Mr. Anbumani as the PMK president.
The party has also formally requested that S.P. Venkateshwaran be allocated a front-row seat in the Assembly. Mr. Balu expressed confidence, stating, “The Speaker is expected to make a decision on our submitted letters very soon.”
When pressed on the appropriateness of removing Mr. Mani, especially given his 25 years of service as party president (since 1998), Mr. Balu responded, “We have only relieved him from the position of the party’s floor leader.”
While acknowledging Mr. Mani’s long-standing dedication to the party, Mr. Balu added, “Some of his recent remarks were regrettable, as they conflicted with the party’s rules and best interests. This collective decision was made by the party MLAs.”
Additional Security for PMK Founder
In a separate development, Salem West MLA R. Arul submitted a plea to the Chief Secretary of Tamil Nadu, requesting enhanced protection for PMK founder S. Ramadoss. The request also included the installation of a metal detector at Mr. Ramadoss’s Thailapuram residence to screen visitors, citing that the current security measures were insufficient.
In his official representation, Mr. Arul referenced ongoing “crises” and “ambiguous situations” within the party, emphasizing Mr. Ramadoss’s frequent travel. Consequently, Mr. Arul sought additional security details for Mr. Ramadoss during his journeys.