PMK Founder S. Ramadoss Retires and Transfers Power to Son

Pattali Makkal Katchi founder S. Ramadoss announced his complete retirement from political life on July 25, 2026, coinciding with his 88th birthday. Speaking at gatherings in Villupuram and Tindivanam, including Saraswathi College and the Thaiyur Estate, Ramadoss declared a state of political renunciation. He stated he will no longer make political statements or interfere in party decisions, formally transferring all administrative and strategic control to his son and PMK President, Anbumani Ramadoss.

The transition follows a period of intense familial and political conflict, during which the father and son led separate party factions during the 2026 assembly elections. The retirement is viewed as a symbolic move to resolve internal rifts and reconcile the leadership struggle. Ramadoss also cited health concerns as a factor, noting a recent 20-day hospital stay and recurring vertigo.

Ramadoss leaves a five-decade legacy defined by social justice advocacy and the leadership of the Vanniyar Sangam. His efforts were central to the 1989 creation of the Most Backward Class reservation category in Tamil Nadu, which secured a 20 percent reservation for the Vanniyar community. Former Chief Minister M.K. Stalin extended birthday greetings to Ramadoss, acknowledging his role as a powerful voice for social justice. Anbumani Ramadoss now intends to transition the PMK from a caste-based mobilization movement into a broader development-oriented political party.