Chennai/Villupuram: PMK president Anbumani Ramadoss said his father and party founder S Ramadoss instructed him to form an alliance with the BJP ahead of the 2024 parliamentary polls. Ramadoss has been openly accusing Anbumani and his wife of pressuring him to forge an alliance with the BJP. According to sources, Anbumani told PMK IT wing functionaries during a meeting on Saturday, “It was Ayya (Ramadoss), who instructed me to form an alliance with the BJP in 2024. If he had said otherwise, why would I reject the AIADMK alliance?” Sources said during the meeting, Anbumani wondered why the Congress and VCK parties have suddenly developed an affection for Ramadoss. He said the sudden visit of Congress leader K Selvaperunthagai at Ramadoss’ Thailapuram farmhouse near Tindivanam and the praise heaped on his father by VCK president Thol Thirumavalavan and general secretary D Ravikumar are part of “a DMK conspiracy”. Anbumani said his father Ramadoss has not been himself for the past five years. “Had he genuinely spoken as Ramadoss, I would have followed blindly. Now, three individuals are using him for their personal gain. I had already decided that I would be the next leader after Ramadoss. Even 12 years ago, he had told me to lead the PMK. But now, he gives responsibility even to criminals and thieves,” Anbumani told functionaries at the meeting, sources said. “The incidents and developments have caused me great mental distress. I’ve been unable to sleep or find peace. Who speaks publicly about his son and daughter-in-law? Who criticises a daughter-in-law who has come into the family, in public? Because I remain silent, only their side of the story seems to be heard. But I’ve been waiting for the right time to clarify. I can speak the truth at any moment,” Anbumani said, according to sources. Anbumani said as per the party’s by-laws, the general body meeting can be convened under the founder’s guidance, but it does not grant any authority to the founder. “Only the president, general secretary, and treasurer have the power to conduct or organise the general body meeting,” he told functionaries.
