PMK leaders in a tight spot as Ramadoss and Anbumani call separate general body meetings

With PMK president Anbumani Ramadoss convening a general body meeting on August 9, and party founder S. Ramadoss calling one on August 17, senior party leaders say the intra-party conflict has put the cadre in a spot — of having to choose between the two leaders.

Meeting reporters on Saturday, Dr. Ramadoss said that the general body members should be given a notice of at least 15 days, and that he had called for the general body meeting as per the party’s bylaws.

“I founded the PMK and built the party by visiting 96,000 villages. Nobody else can claim ownership... I have announced the general body meeting on August 17. The working president has announced a general body on August 9. It is against the party rules and regulations for the working president to call for a general body meeting. Also, if it has to be convened, the members have to be given a 15 days’ notice,” he said.

However, advocate K. Balu, who has been the face of the party, and is now with Dr. Anbumani, said that seven days’ prior notice was enough. “Rule 31 states that a prior notice of seven days is enough to call a meeting of the party. We have announced the general body before nine days. The party rules also clearly state who can call for the meeting. Only the party’s general secretary can notify it, and the party president alone must preside over the general body and executive council meetings; the Rule 15 makes that clear. According to Rule 13, the party founder should be invited to these meetings and his guidance should be sought. His powers end there,” he said.