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Chennai, Oct 19 (IANS) The ruling DMK is understood to have asked Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) founder Dr S. The proposals of Ramdas’ camp have been rejected.
Party sources said the decision has been taken to maintain the unity of the existing alliance, especially with VCK, the key DMK partner with a strong base among Dalits in northern Tamil Nadu.
According to senior DMK leaders, the Ramadoss camp had recently approached the party through informal channels to explore the possibility of an alliance. A senior leader said, “We got the idea from the PMK founder, but our leadership was not keen. Any move to bring in the PMK could upset the VCK and also risk their withdrawal from the alliance. The DMK will not ally with either the father or the son in 2026.”
The PMK, established to represent the interests of the Vanniyar community, is facing a leadership dispute between Ramadoss and his son Anbumani Ramadoss.
Despite requests from Anbumani’s group, the legislative wing of the party has not yet received official recognition for any faction in the Tamil Nadu Assembly.
The last time PMK and VCK shared space within the DMK alliance was during the 2011 assembly elections, when PMK contested 30 seats and won three, while VCK, which contested 10 seats, failed to win.
VCK MP D. Ravikumar said the decision on alliance entirely depends on the DMK leadership, but reiterated his party’s long-standing stance against partnering with the PMK or BJP.
“We respect Dr Ramadoss and our leader Thol as an experienced leader. Thirumavalavan had also recently asked about his health. But as far as the alliance is concerned, the DMK will take the decision,” he said.
Analysts recall that in 2011, the PMK had managed to draw significant votes even in Dalit-dominated seats like Jayanakondam. However, the Dharmapuri caste violence caused by inter-caste marriage in 2012 created a deep rift between Dalit and non-Dalit communities in the area. Since then, caste tensions have persisted, with the VCK accusing the PMK of inciting hostility.
In July, Tamil Nadu Congress Committee President K. Dr. Ramadoss’s visit to Selvaperunthagai was criticized by the VCK, prompting senior Congress leaders including Manickam Tagore to intervene and reaffirm Thirumavalavan’s solidarity with the party.
–IANS
AL/DPB