Anbumani likely to announce PMK’s choice of alliance ‘very soon’

In a bid to avoid criticism about the PMK dragging seat-sharing negotiations until the last minute, its leader Anbumani will announce his choice of joining an alliance “very soon”, according to his supporters.

Mr. Anbumani’s relations with his father and party founder S. Ramdoss have been strained in recent months.

Senior leaders backing Mr. Anbumani acknowledge that keeping the voters on tenterhooks, as it has happened in the past, until the very end was not in the best interests of the party.

“It is difficult to provide a time frame, but our leader will conclude the negotiations and announce the alliance very soon. It won’t be like how it was in previous election years,” said PMK spokesperson K. Balu.

Mr. Balu was referring to Mr. Anbumani’s recent speech in Dharmapuri that “there will be important developments in Tamil Nadu politics in the coming weeks.”

Sources close to Mr. Anbumani said he was cognisant that last minute, hectic parleys and negotiations shrouded in secrecy have not inspired confidence among the voters and hoped to rectify the mistakes of the past.

“This time around...only the president will have the powers to decide on the alliance. So, it would be different from the past,” the source said.

Interestingly, Mr Ramadoss is also likely to announce his decision on the alliance officially on December 30, 2025. One of his loyalists said, “he may not just announce the alliance but also the candidates who will be contesting.”