Latest news with #AnbumaniRamadoss
New Indian Express
9 hours ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
‘Fix minimum age for tobacco use as 21', PMK president Anbumani urges
CHENNAI: Pattali Makkal Katchi president Dr Anbumani Ramadoss on Monday welcomed the Karnataka government's decision to raise the minimum legal age for tobacco consumption from 18 to 21, calling it a commendable and progressive move that sets a precedent for the rest of India. In a statement, Anbumani said the Karnataka Assembly had amended Sections 4 and 4A of Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), effectively banning smoking in public places and raising the penalty for violations from Rs 200 to Rs 1,000. The amended law, which has received Presidential assent, has now come into force across Karnataka. While appreciating Karnataka's initiative, Anbumani criticised Tamil Nadu for repeatedly ignoring appeals to enact similar legislation. He urged both the union and state governments to adopt the same age limit of 21 for tobacco use. Anbumani also suggested a phased approach — raising the minimum age by one year annually — with the goal of turning Tamil Nadu into a tobacco-free state in the near future.
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
AIADMK picks two former legislators for RS elections
Tamil Nadu's main opposition AIADMK on Sunday announced former MLAs M Dhanapal and IS Inbadurai as its two nominees for the June 19 biennial election to the Rajya Sabha, said AIADMK general secretary KP Munusamy, adding that ally Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) will be given one Rajya Sabha seat when vacancies arise in 2026. On July 24 this year, six RS members from Tamil Nadu will retire and it includes PMK's Anbumani Ramadoss and MDMK top leader Vaiko. To secure a Rajya Sabha seat, a nominee requires 34 votes. The AIADMK, led by Edappadi Palaniswami (EPS), has 62 MLAs and the support of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has four MLAs. The AIADMK and BJP formed an alliance in April to fight the 2026 assembly elections together after splitting for 19 months. The DMK-led coalition, the Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA), in Tamil Nadu has a strength of 159 legislative members in the 234-member assembly. The DMK has announced four nominees. The party re-nominated senior advocate P Wilson and nominated party members Salma, and SR Sivalingam, while giving the fourth nomination to ally Kamal Haasan, actor and chief of Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM). While announcing the nominees, Munusamy said that the DMDK continues to be in their alliance and that EPS has confirmed that they will be given a seat in the Upper House next time. However, the DMDK was not happy with the announcement. DMDK general secretary Premalatha Vijayakant did not confirm Munusamy's statement that the DMDK will continue in the AIADMK-led NDA alliance. 'Politics is all about elections. The AIADMK has made its announcement. The DMDK will announce its stand on alliance in January 2026 at the party's conference in Cuddalore,' Vijayakant told reporters. When the AIADMK split from the BJP, only the DMDK remained with the Dravidian major, while the remaining allies such as the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) remained with the NDA. The current sitting members in the Upper House from Tamil Nadu are MM Abdullah (DMK), N Chandrasegharan (AIADMK), Anbumani Ramadoss (PMK, an ally of NDA), M Shanmugam (DMK), Vaiko (MDMK, an ally of DMK) and Wilson (DMK).
News18
3 days ago
- Politics
- News18
Father Vs Son Battle In PMK Hints At Shifting Electoral Battle Lines In Tamil Nadu
Last Updated: The intense disagreement between father and son in a Tamil Nadu party enjoying community patronage means alliances can swing anyway in the coming polls The Paatali Makkal Katchi (PMK) is undergoing severe leadership disagreement at the moment, with Anbumani Ramadoss, the son, rebelling against his father and the party's founder, Ramadoss. Through a press conference, the father had alleged extreme pressure from the son in alliance decisions and party affairs, besides delivering a strong assertion as to who holds the reins. Anbumani, meanwhile, has asserted his own position as president, reinstalling leaders expelled by his father. Party seniors are expressing distress, while political analysts speculate if this is heading towards a vertical split in one of Tamil Nadu's largest parties enjoying a solid community patronage. What is not apparent but true is the larger meaning from the conflict underway at the PMK. As a party that vacillated between both Dravidian majors and was pitched as an alternative to both in 2016 (Change, Development, Anbumani was the slogan), the PMK has had a circuitous path over the last decade. The question of whom to ally with—or to strike out independently—has always dogged the party. Now, arriving as it does around a year ahead of state elections, this could be a symptom of state alliance equations undergoing a reset. Tamil Nadu as a political arena has a certain duality in character. In choosing their next chief minister, the people have by and large alternated between the DMK and the AIADMK—the two Dravidian parties. At the same time, they have never shied away from a strong vote of confidence for a newcomer. Particularly, if said newcomer hails from Tinseltown and has captured hearts, speaking from the celluloid long before entering the fray formally. In short, they seem to remain with the incumbents, yet encourage challengers. The challenger of today is actor Vijay and he has taken a clear mark at the ruling forces in the state and Center. Whenever the DMK-AIADMK tug of war is disturbed by a new entrant, a ripple starts to spread in other regional parties. The PMK's intense disagreement could have—at its core—the question of allying with the AIADMK-BJP combine to present a strong opposition to the DMK. Or, should the party not get pulled in by the BJP and weigh its options independently? From the BJP's perspective, playing the arithmetic game makes sense, given the fact that the DMK leads in the narrative sense—a state suffering the might of institutions and the ED while protecting language, education, and state autonomy. With the PMK holding a strong vote base in the northern districts and the BJP chief being from the deep South, and the AIADMK taking care of the West (kongu belt), the BJP should be congratulating itself for putting together a formidable alliance (should the PMK choose to ally). Leader of the VCK, Thol Thirumavalavan, had recently said the party is not averse to bold decisions, but the current attacks on it are motivated to destabilise the DMK Front. The party recently lost a leader to actor Vijay's TVK. Should the TVK take away even a minor fraction of the DMK Front's bank from the oppressed communities, would that not weaken an alliance successful for over six years now? And how would such a deep realignment not play on the minds of all regional parties, including the PMK? The current turmoil within the PMK should be seen in the light of the new forces at play in Tamil Nadu and how they might reset electoral alliances we had assumed for sure. In the run-up to the polls, more symptoms may arise of this reset and how leaders will react in posturing before an audience with more choices in the polling booths, come same time next year. First Published: May 31, 2025, 12:55 IST
News18
27-05-2025
- Politics
- News18
Actor Kamal Haasan Set To Contest Rajya Sabha Polls with DMK's Support; To File Nomination Soon
MNM chief and actor Kamal Haasan is poised to enter the Rajya Sabha through a poll pact with the DMK. Meanwhile, PMK MP Anbumani Ramadoss may face a tough battle to retain his seat, as he lacks support from either of the major Dravidian parties. The upcoming Rajya Sabha elections are stirring considerable political interest in Tamil Nadu, with the DMK and AIADMK likely to win four and two seats, respectively. The election is scheduled for June 19, with vote counting set for 5 PM the same day. n18oc_indian18oc_politicsNews18 Mobile App -
New Indian Express
25-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
PMK flays Tamil Nadu govt's plan to open new sand quarries
CHENNAI/DHARMAPURI: PMK president Dr Anbumani Ramadoss on Saturday strongly condemned the statement government's alleged decision to open over 20 new sand quarries across 13 districts, calling it a grave threat to the environment. He warned if the government fails to shut down river sand quarries and take concrete steps to protect the environment, PMK would launch state-wide protests. In a statement, he pointed out rampant sand mining in the Kollidam river has resulted in seawater intrusion into groundwater sources, turning freshwater saline and affecting hundreds of villages. Anbumani called for alternative measures instead, such as importing sand from countries like Malaysia and promoting artificial sand production to meet the construction industry's needs at affordable prices. Meanwhile, attending a party event at Kadathur in Dharmapuri, Anbumani said DMK is the enemy of Vanniyars as it has denied reservation for the community. He also blamed the DMK government and Chief Minister MK Stalin for not taking caste survey and not giving internal reservation for Vanniyars in Tamil Nadu.
