Anbumani Ramadoss Launches 100-Day Walkathon to 'Reclaim Tamil Nadu's Rights' Amid PMK Power Struggle

Anbumani Ramadoss

In a bold move that merges political activism with a silent stance on internal party turmoil, PMK president Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss has announced a 100-day statewide walkathon, aiming to highlight what he calls the “loss of people’s rights” under the current DMK government. The announcement comes just a day after his father and PMK founder Dr. S Ramadoss issued a strongly worded statement declaring that he would remain the party’s president “until his last breath.”

While Anbumani has so far refrained from directly responding to the public rift with his father, his actions speak volumes. On Friday, he held a high-level meeting with PMK district secretaries at Panaiyur (ECR), where 108 of the 117 district secretaries attended, along with key MLAs like SP Venkateshwaran (Dharmapuri), S Sadhasivam (Mettur), and C Sivakumar (Mailam)—all of whom have openly sided with him.

A March for Rights—Not Just Politics

Anbumani’s statement emphasized that the walkathon is not about intra-party dynamics but about the broader welfare of the people of Tamil Nadu. He outlined 10 core rights he seeks to champion through this movement:

• Social Justice

• Women’s Right to Live Free from Violence

• Employment and Livelihood

• Farming and Food Security

• Equitable Development

• Accessible Public Services

• Health and Education

• Freedom from Alcohol and Drugs

• Sustainable Urban Development

• A Healthy Environment

He clarified that this campaign is about people-centric issues, asserting that Tamil Nadu’s citizens have been deprived of these fundamental rights due to what he called “poor governance” by the DMK.

Symbolism, Silence, and Subtext

The walkathon is set to begin on July 25, a date that coincidentally marks Dr. Ramadoss’s birthday. However, the announcement notably omits any mention of the founder and instead frames the date as ‘Pasumai Thayagam Day’, a nod to the party’s green movement wing. Adding to the symbolic silence, the invitation for the walkathon was released without Dr. Ramadoss’s photo—a stark departure from PMK tradition.

Internal Tensions Continue to Simmer

As the generational divide within PMK deepens, Dr. Ramadoss reiterated to the media that he will remain party president through 2026, and that electoral alliance decisions will be his alone to make. He also accused Anbumani’s camp of attempting to influence party general secretary Vadivel Ravanan, claiming he was being housed in a luxurious hotel to control his movements.

However, Ravanan swiftly refuted the claim, releasing a short video from a tea shop in Villupuram. “I’m with the working class, drinking tea in a local shop—not hiding in a 7-star hotel,” he quipped, calling the allegations baseless.

What Lies Ahead?

With Anbumani launching a mass outreach campaign and Ramadoss standing his ground, PMK finds itself at a political and generational crossroads. Whether this walkathon becomes a unifying force or further polarizes the party remains to be seen.

For now, Anbumani is marching ahead—literally and figuratively—seeking to carve out a new identity for both himself and the PMK in Tamil Nadu’s dynamic political landscape.