Family feud turns violent as PMK supporters of Ramadoss, Anbumani clash on Salem streets

R Arul alleged that his convoy was pelted with stones near Vazhapadi in Salem district by supporters of Anbumani, who were “upset” with him for organising the PMK’s General Council headed by Ramadoss in Salem.

Chennai: The political feud between PMK founder S Ramadoss and his son Anbumani spilled on to the streets on Tuesday with cadres owing allegiance to the two leaders clashing violently with each other in Salem in western Tamil Nadu.

It all began with R Arul, PMK MLA from Salem (West) constituency, alleging on Tuesday that supporters of Anbumani, a former Union Minister and PMK president, attacked his convoy of cars and demanded that police act against the perpetrators. However, Anbumani’s spokesperson and senior party leader K Balu levelled a counter allegation that it was Arul’s supporters who brutally attacked cadres.

Arul alleged that his convoy was pelted with stones near Vazhapadi in Salem district by supporters of Anbumani, who were “upset” with him for organising the PMK’s General Council headed by Ramadoss in Salem.

"Three men had huge sickles, five had iron pipes and six cars were damaged by them using such weapons and they moved menacingly towards me, saying they would finish me off," Arul claimed and alleged that Anbumani was behind the attack on him.

However, Balu claimed that party workers were brutally assaulted by a gang led by the Salem (West) MLA and that gang also attempted to mow down and kill cadres using a car and attacks took place in at least two places.

Speaking at a public meeting, Anbumani said some “vested interests” have created a wedge between him and his father Ramadoss. “People have betrayed me. I won’t go to the other side (father) as long as he is surrounded by traitors. They have split us,” he added.

Police said a case has been registered following complaints from both factions. Tuesday’s development shows the deep divisions within the PMK after the father-son duo began attacking each other in public.

Arul, who is among the two MLAs owing allegiance to Ramadoss, has been highly critical of Anbumani for the past three months and even accusing him of betraying his own father. The feud between Ramadoss and his son Anbumani began in December 2024 after the latter took objection to the former appointing another family member to a key post in the party.

Since then, the two have been fighting in the open with the issue escalating in April 2025 when Ramadoss sacked his son from the president’s post and appointed himself to the post. However, Anbumani maintains that he was still the president of the PMK as he was duly elected to the post by the General Council.