Anbumani Ramadoss, president of the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) and a Rajya Sabha member, has made a significant statement regarding the 2026 Tamil Nadu assembly election. He has declared that if the Scheduled Caste community extends its support to the PMK, his party would consider projecting a person from the SC community as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. This promise comes in the wake of a statement made by Thol Thirumavalavan, the president of the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) and MP from Chidambaram, who asserted that a Dalit can never become the Chief Minister of the state.
Addressing reporters in Villupuram, Anbumani Ramadoss emphasized the PMK’s historical commitment to the welfare of the Scheduled Caste community. He highlighted that when the party was offered a berth in the Union Cabinet in 1998, they gave the opportunity to a Dalit leader, Ezhilmalai. He further pointed out that the DMK appointed a Dalit member as Union minister (A Raja) in 1999, a year after the PMK included a Dalit as a Union Minister of State. Ramadoss also emphasized that the PMK’s general secretary is a Dalit. He asserted that the PMK has consistently championed the cause of the SC community and no other political party can match their contribution.
Ramadoss, known for his active role in securing reservation for Scheduled Castes in medical college admissions across the country, reiterated the PMK’s dedication to the upliftment of the community. This declaration by the PMK leader has injected a new dimension into the political discourse in Tamil Nadu, raising questions about the party’s strategy and the potential impact of the SC community’s support in the upcoming elections.
