"DMK will be routed...made many promises but failed to deliver...": PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss

Madurai (Tamil Nadu) [India], December 27 (ANI): Ahead of the upcoming 2026 Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu, Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) President Anbumani Ramadoss has intensified criticism of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) government and predicted on Saturday that Chief Minister MK Stalin will be defeated, citing widespread anger among people due to unfulfilled promises.
Speaking with ANI, he said, "... One thing I can guarantee is that in the coming assembly election, DMK will be routed as people are very angry with the DMK. People across society are protesting against the DMK. They made many promises but failed to deliver..."
The DMK has faced criticism for its handling of various issues, which has led to protests across different sections of society. DMK fulfilled only 13% of its 505 promises (66 items) over 4 years, failing to deliver on job creation, farm loan waivers, and old pension schemes.
Accusing the DMK of failing to honour its electoral commitments, he alleged that only 66 out of the 505 promises made before the last elections had been fulfilled, amounting to just 13 per cent. "As elections approach, this wave of anti-incumbency will turn into a tsunami," he said.
The party has been facing farmers' anger over inadequate ₹5,191/acre compensation for crop damage from rains/cyclone Ditwah, far below promised amounts. Moreover, the Opposition accuses DMK of betraying the Vanniyar community by not implementing 10.5% internal reservation and misleading on caste surveys.
Ramadoss also urged restraint on the issue of lighting the Thiruparankundram lamp, emphasising that religious matters shouldn't be politicised and that court orders should be followed peacefully.
"... Religious issues should not be politicised. The court has issued certain orders that must be fulfilled without causing any law and order problems...," he said.
Ramadoss firmly asserted his authority within the party, stating that the Election Commission of India (ECI) has officially recognised him as the party's leader and allotted the PMK's flag, symbol and A-form in his name, even as he launched a scathing attack on the ruling DMK and predicted its defeat in the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.
Addressing the media in Madurai, Anbumani responded to the legal notice issued by PMK founder S Ramadoss, saying the matter had already been settled legally. "The Election Commission has clearly given party status, flag, symbol and A-form to me. The Delhi High Court has also directed that the status quo should be maintained," he said. Expressing regret over the internal discord, Anbumani alleged that certain individuals were misleading the PMK founder. "People around him are misguiding him in a big way, which is very unfortunate," he added.
On the deletion of over 96 lakh names from the voter lists in Tamil Nadu, Anbumani welcomed the move, describing it as a long-overdue clean-up exercise. Referring to Chennai, he claimed nearly one-third of voters had been removed from the rolls. "DMK calls Chennai its stronghold, but now we know how they were winning, through fake voters and votes in the names of those who have passed away," he alleged, adding that the ruling party would be the "worst affected" by the exercise.
He urged eligible voters who may have been excluded during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process to use the remaining notified days to re-enrol. He praised the Election Commission for conducting the drive.
Commenting on the Thiruparankundram lamp-lighting issue, Anbumani cautioned against politicising religious matters. "The court has issued certain orders, and they must be followed without creating any law and order problems," he said. (ANI)