States » SouthPosted at: Sep 19 2026 2:28PM


Set back for AIADMK, as key NDA ally PMK decides not to support any party in Oct 6 bypolls

Chennai, Sep 19 (UNI) In a sudden decision that has set political tongues wagging, the OBC-Vanniyar dominated Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK), a key constituent of the NDA headed by the AIADMK in Tamil Nadu, has decided not to support any political party in the October six Assembly bypolls to the reserved Madurantakam and Dharapuram seats, which would witness a tough five-cornered contest.
PMK President and Rajya Sabha MP Anbumani Ramadoss announced the decision last night after holding detailed consultations with senior party leaders and office-bearers,
He said the party would maintain a neutral stand and decided not to support any party in the bypolls, though Madurantakam comes under the Northern districts where the PMK has a considerable Vanniyar support base.
Anbumani, also a former union Minister, in a statement here said It has already been decided and announced that the PMK will not contest in these elections. I would like to inform you that after consultations with the state executives and the district units of the two constituencies, it has been decided not to support any party in this bypoll".
Report said the PMK was reportedly unhappy with the AIADMK for announcing its bypoll candidates without consulting the party. This is understood to be one of the reasons for the delay in announcing its stand.
The PMK's decision has not only shocked the AIADMK but was seen as a setback as party general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami had been stating that the PMK would support the AIADMK in the by-elections.
The by-elections are witnessing a multi-cornered contest involving the Fronts headed by the ruling TVK, main Opposition DMK, AIADMK, besides Naam Tamilar Katchi of actor-director Seeman and the Left parties, which will be contesting in one seat each (CPI
in Dharapuram and CPI-M in Madurantakam), despite offering outside support to the TVK government headed by Chief Minister Vijay.
In the run up to the April 23 Assembly elections, the PMK faced a vertical split over differences between the father-son duo (which has since been resolved) and faction headed by Anbumani, entered into an alliance with the AIADMK, contested 18 seats and won four of them. The PMK was additionally allotted a Rajya Sabha seat, which Anbumani won and became a member of the Upper House of Parliament.
Apart from the PMK, BJP and AMMK and other fringe outfits are part of the AIADMK-led NDA, which had finished a distant third in
the elections bagging 53 seats (AIADMK 47, PMK-4, BJP-1, AMMK-1).
UNI GV 1420
Tags: #Set back for AIADMK# as key NDA ally PMK decides not to support any party in Oct 6 bypolls
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