Change in PMK’s registered address is an attempt to hoodwink people, says G.K. Mani

Former PMK president G.K. Mani on Tuesday alleged that the change in the party’s permanent and registered address from Teynampet in Chennai to Tilak Street (residence of PMK founder S. Ramadoss’s  estranged son Anbumani) was an attempt to hoodwink the people.

Speaking to reporters at Thailapuram near Tindivanam, he said the Election Commission of India (ECI) had allocated the ‘mango’ symbol to the PMK. However, the party’s permanent address was mentioned as Tilak Street, and this came as a shock to the founder and the party cadre.

“The permanent address of the party is at Teynampet, Chennai, but this has been changed in an attempt to hoodwink the people. It amounts to cheating. The ECI mentioned in another letter that it had recorded the details of the functionaries elected at the general council meeting held at Mamallapuram,” he said.

‘Meeting invalid’

Mr. Mani, a supporter of Dr. Ramadoss, said Dr. Anbumani was appointed as the PMK president in 2022 and his tenure ended on May 28, 2025. “When this was the case, how could Dr. Anbumani convene the general council meeting at Mamallapuram [at a later date],” he asked. “Under the party’s by-laws, the general and executive councils cannot be convened without the approval of the founder. Hence, the general council meeting convened at Mamallapuram is invalid,” he said.

Mr. Mani, the Pennagaram MLA, said the administrative committee of the PMK had unanimously elected Dr. Ramadoss as the president at a meeting held on May 29, 2025. This was endorsed by the executive council and general council meetings held on July 8 and August 19 respectively. “Dr. Ramadoss is the president of the PMK, and this is final,” he said.

Charges denied

Meanwhile, PMK spokesperson K. Balu, a supporter of Dr. Anbumani, rejected Mr. Mani’s allegations. He said there was no truth in the charges, which would only diminish the stature of Dr. Ramadoss.

“Mr. Mani was the PMK president for 25 years. When Dr. Anbumani became the president in 2022, a letter was sent to the ECI seeking to change the address to the present one on Tilak Street at T. Nagar, Chennai, on June 1, 2022. Since then, this has been the party’s headquarters. All the statements released by Dr. Anbumani have carried this address. The identity cards issued to the PMK workers carry the same address, and all the communication from the ECI has been delivered to the T. Nagar address,” he said. 

Mr. Balu said the party’s by-law (Rule 13) doesn’t state that the founder’s approval was required to ratify the decisions taken by the general council. “How can someone who has served as the PMK president for 25 years make such a defamatory and incorrect statement,” he asked.

Mr. Balu again referred to the party’s by-laws to state that the founder doesn’t automatically become the president after the tenure [of the president] ends. “The administration of the party is left to the president, the general secretary, and the treasurer... Lastly, as for the claim that the ECI letter was actually meant for their faction [the Ramadoss  faction], the letter sent to us grants the extension of the tenure, which was sought by us. This allegation is childish,” he said.