Chennai, Oct 6 (IANS) — PMK founder Dr. S. Ramadoss was admitted to a Chennai hospital on Sunday for a detailed cardiac evaluation. Authorities said the 85-year-old veteran is stable, and an angiogram is scheduled for Monday. Hospital sources confirmed that he underwent preliminary heart tests and is under close medical supervision.
“He is stable and under careful observation,” a source familiar with the situation said, noting that doctors are exercising extra caution given his age and active political engagements.
Dr. Ramadoss’ hospitalisation comes amid a visible rift between him and his son, PMK president Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss. Once considered a unified leadership team, father and son now appear to be operating on separate tracks. The founder, long regarded as the ideological force of the party, has in recent weeks been engaging directly with senior cadres and district leaders, bypassing the formal structures overseen by Dr. Anbumani.
A key indicator of this internal tension was Dr. Ramadoss’ appointment of Tamil Kumar — son of former PMK legislative party leader G.K. Mani — as president of the party’s youth wing. Traditionally a stronghold of Dr. Anbumani, who built his political career leading the youth front, the move is seen as the founder asserting influence over the next generation of party leaders.
Meanwhile, Dr. Anbumani has been focusing on modernising the PMK’s image, appealing to urban and young voters through policy-driven campaigns and strengthening his base ahead of the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. These parallel initiatives have created dual power centres within the party, with the father-son duo rarely appearing together at public events in recent months.
Late Sunday, the PMK released a brief statement urging party cadres not to panic about Dr. Ramadoss’ health, emphasising that he remains stable and under expert care.
Political observers are closely monitoring both the health updates and the party’s next moves, as the situation could influence PMK’s strategy and Tamil Nadu’s evolving electoral landscape.
