I'm the leader, 2026 alliance will be my call: PMK founder

CONTRARY to expectations from party functionaries that the reconciliatory talks reportedly done by RSS ideologue S Gurumurthy and former Chennai Mayor Saidai Duraisamy would end the ongoing turmoil within the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK), party founder S Ramadoss on Thursday firmly asserted that the only way to end the conflict between him and his son Anbumani Ramadoss would be to accept his leadership as the founder-president, at least until the 2026 Assembly elections are over.

- BAGALAVAN PERIER B@ Villupuram

Ramadoss said that he will decide on the party's alliance for the 2026 elections. "Parties wishing to ally with the PMK know what is good and bad. They will decide. As the founder, I will call the general council when I deem fit. I will decide on alliances," he said, adding that there have been no talks either with the BJP or actor Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam so far.