Letter: PMK Founder Challenges Election Commission on Party Symbol Dispute
Letter: Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) founder Dr. S. Ramadoss has approached the Madras High Court seeking judicial intervention over a communication issued by the Election Commission of India (ECI) concerning the party’s official election symbol. The petition questions the validity of a letter dated July 30, 2025, which addressed the allocation of the party’s “mango” symbol and was sent to the residence of his son, Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss, instead of his own address.
Petition Scheduled for February Hearing
The writ petition has been listed for hearing on February 2, 2026, before a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava and Justice G. Arul Murugan. Dr. Ramadoss has requested the court to quash the July 30 communication and instruct the Election Commission to issue a fresh letter recognising him as the party’s incumbent president and sending it to his office address in Chennai.
Dispute Over Party Leadership
Although the petition has been filed in the name of PMK, it identifies Dr. S. Ramadoss as the founder and current president representing the party. In an affidavit filed in support of the plea, he asserted that his son’s third term as party president concluded on May 28, 2025. He maintained that no valid extension or reappointment had taken place thereafter.
According to the petitioner, any claim by Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss to continue as party president lacks legal standing and violates internal party rules.
Allegations of Misrepresentation to Election Body
Dr. Ramadoss has alleged that his son misled the Election Commission by submitting forged or invalid documents to project himself as the continuing president of PMK. He further claimed that these submissions were based on party meetings that were convened without authorisation from the founder, rendering their outcomes unlawful.
The affidavit argues that the Election Commission acted on these disputed representations while issuing the July 30 communication.
Issue of Symbol Allocation Communication
The petition states that on July 31, 2025, the Election Commission decided to allot the “mango” symbol to PMK for the Bihar Legislative Assembly elections held last year, as well as for the upcoming Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. However, Dr. Ramadoss contended that the official intimation of this decision was sent to Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss’ residence on Tilak Street in T. Nagar, Chennai.
He argued that the communication should have been addressed to his office on Nattu Muthu Naiken Street, also in T. Nagar, as he claims to be the lawful president of the party.
Reference to Proceedings Before Delhi High Court
The affidavit also drew attention to recent proceedings before the Delhi High Court involving the internal leadership dispute within PMK. During a hearing held on December 14, 2025, counsel representing the Election Commission reportedly informed the court that the Commission would freeze the party’s “mango” symbol for the 2026 elections due to the unresolved factional conflict.
Despite this submission, Dr. Ramadoss stated that no formal order freezing the symbol has been issued so far.
Alleged Inaction by the Election Commission
Dr. Ramadoss further claimed that the Election Commission has neither sent any fresh communication to his office address nor implemented the proposed freezing of the symbol. This, he argued, is despite the existence of competing leadership claims and the removal of Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss from party membership on September 11, 2025.
The petition urges the court to intervene to ensure procedural fairness and clarity in the Commission’s dealings with the party until the leadership issue is conclusively resolved.