Anbumani unwilling to share space with Ramadoss in alliance

A rapprochement between PMK founder S. Ramadoss and his son Anbumani Ramadoss is unlikely before next year’s Assembly election. Indicating this, sources close to Dr. Anbumani say he is even disinclined to be part of any alliance in which Dr. Ramadoss finds a place.

A senior PMK leader, who is privy to the development, told The Hindu on Friday that there was no possibility of reconciliation between the father and son before the election. “Dr. Anbumani has gone past the stage where differences with his father could be worked out. We are talking to our alliance partners. But, we will not be in the same alliance as Dr. Ramadoss. It is not possible. There is no chance of reconciliation,” the senior leader said. Furthermore, Dr. Anbumani, who is critical of the ruling DMK, is reportedly on the verge of finalising the alliance and would possibly announce it in the upcoming weeks.

‘Will defeat the DMK’

Addressing journalists in Chennai on his 108-day padayatra across several constituencies, Dr. Anbumani made it clear the ‘PMK will be part of the alliance that would defeat the DMK’.

“The padayatra has been an important experience in my life. Many of the issues that were flagged in the respective regions have been resolved immediately, and the PMK will continue to protest and press for a solution to the rest of the issues,” he said.

Dr. Anbumani said the pollution from the Kodungaiyur garbage incinerator project in north Chennai could cause cancer among the population living close to it and should be shut down while flagging the issue of Chromium waste pollution in Ranipet, ignored by State Minister R. Gandhi.

He also demanded a minimum support price for mangoes cultivated in districts such as Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri, and slammed the arrest of farmers, who protested against the proposal to set up a SIPCOT in Tiruvannamalai, under the Goondas Act.

Dr. Anbumani said: “The DMK should respond to the document that we released (which claimed that only 8.8% of the investments have actually been invested in the State).” He also sought a debate on the private investments that have come into Tamil Nadu.