Tamil Nadu Assembly election: Sowmiya Anbumani likely to enter the fray in a PMK stronghold

With Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) president Anbumani Ramadoss’ recent election to the Rajya Sabha, party sources revealed that Sowmiya Anbumani will “most likely” contest the upcoming Assembly elections in one of the PMK strongholds in Tamil Nadu.

Furthermore, highly placed sources in the PMK reiterated that Dr. Anbumani has a “very good equation” with the AIADMK and BJP and has managed to rule out the inclusion of his father S. Ramadoss in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). “There are media reports that Dr. Ramadoss’ faction could be allotted few seats as a part of the alliance. It is not going to happen,” said PMK sources.

Sources said that Dr. Anbumani’s decision to get elected to the Rajya Sabha was taken after much deliberation over what the party needs at this moment of crisis. “His decision to take the Rajya Sabha seat paves the way for the entry of Ms. Sowmiya as the party’s face in the Assembly … should she win. Also, the party needs a strong presence in New Delhi as of now, and Dr. Anbumani provides that. The party also feels that it needs a strong personality to campaign against the DMK across Assembly constituencies,” sources said, adding: “The party has already identified few constituencies as favourable in which Ms. Sowmiya can be fielded – Thiruporur, Dharmapuri, Pennagaram, and Pappireddipatti.”

‘Vijay’ factor

While the PMK continues to wield a strong influence in Dharmapuri, Pennagaram, and Pappireddipatti constituencies, the party feels that the Vijay [actor and chief of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam] factor and the alliance arithmetic would benefit the PMK in Thiruporur – currently held by Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi’s (VCK) S.S. Balaji.

Another senior leader said that while the rift with PMK founder Dr. Ramadoss, could complicate matters in few of these seats, many believe that they could overcome any attempt at sabotage by leaning onto Ms. Sowmiya “genial” personality, which could appeal to women and young voters across communities.

‘Implement poll promises’

Dr. Anbumani has urged the DMK government to provide ₹100 subsidy for gas cylinders, which was one of the promises made by the party before coming to power in 2021.

Speaking at the general body meeting of the PMK’s women’s wing in Pallavaram, Dr. Anbumani said, “Due to the US/Israel-Iran war, the price of gas cylinders has now increased. The DMK had said that if they came to power, they would give a subsidy of ₹100 on gas cylinders. They can implement that now; it would benefit the people,” he said.

He added that the DMK has failed to implement a number of promises that it had made in 2021, such as introducing a system of taking monthly electricity meter readings to calculate electricity charges and the abolition of the NEET.