Overview

• Only 13 out of 216 PMK district presidents and secretaries attended a strategy meeting called by S. Ramadoss on May 16, highlighting deep internal divisions.
• S. Ramadoss attributed the low attendance to exhaustion from the recent Vanniyar Youth Conference, though some leaders cited fears of being implicated in disciplinary actions against Anbumani Ramadoss.
• The infighting stems from S. Ramadoss reinstating himself as party president on April 11, demoting Anbumani to working president, a move Anbumani has publicly challenged.
• Support within the party appears to be shifting toward Anbumani, with many office-bearers seen aligning with him despite S. Ramadoss's continued authority.
• The PMK, a key NDA ally with influence among the Vanniyar community, aims to win 50 seats in the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections but faces hurdles from its internal power struggle.