Villupuram: In an emotional reunion that has cheered PMK rank and file, PMK president Anbumani Ramadoss called on his father and party founder S Ramadoss at his Thailapuram farmhouse near Tindivanam on Wednesday. The meeting, after one and half year of bitter feud, signalled a patch up between the two leaders.The meeting that lasted for more than two hours happened on senior Ramadoss’ 61st wedding anniversary. “From now on, only good things will happen,” Anbumani told reporters after the family get together.PMK men said Anbumani arrived at the farmhouse accompanied by his wife, his three daughters, his son-in-law, grandchildren, and his youngest sister.Upon their arrival, household staff performed traditional Aarthi rituals and smashed a sacrificial coconut to ward off evil eyes. When father and son stood face-to-face after 18 months, Ramadoss hugged Anbumani tightly and wept uncontrollably.Moved by his father’s tears, Anbumani also broke down, partymen said. After regaining his composure, Anbumani comforted his father.“This is a happy meeting. It would have been better if the meeting had happened much earlier,’’ said PMK leader G K Mani. Soon after Anbumani left, Ramadoss had summoned Mani and held a discussion with him. “The meeting would not only strengthen the family bond but would also augur well for PMk,’’ Mani said.The reconciliation has indicated that the long-standing hostility between the two has reached an end. With the family feud resolved, an official announcement detailing the reunification of the two PMK factions and their plan to jointly resume party work is expected soon, said PMK leaders.The intense friction between the father and son traces back to Dec 28, 2024, during the party’s general body meeting. At that event, Ramadoss announced his grandson Mukundan leader of the PMK youth wing, which was opposed by Anbumani, resulting in the split.Soon, Ramadoss began summarily expelling Anbumani’s loyalists. Countering his father, Anbumani declared that Ramadoss lacked the constitutional authority to sack office-bearers and asserted himself as party president. The crisis peaked during the recent state assembly elections. Backed by a favourable court order declaring that the party belonged to him, Anbumani fielded candidates under the PMK’s official ‘Mango’ symbol. In retaliation, Ramadoss fielded independent candidates on separate symbols directly opposing his son’s nominees. Throughout this period, Anbumani completely avoided his father.
