The Madras High Court has directed the Election Commission of India (ECI) to file its response within three weeks to a petition filed by Dr. S. Ramadoss, founder of the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK), challenging the allotment of the party’s ‘mango’ election symbol to the faction led by his son, Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss.
The matter was heard on Monday by a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice M.M. Shrivastava and Justice G. Arul Murugan.
Dr. Ramadoss has approached the court seeking to quash the ECI’s communication dated July 30, 2025, which was addressed to Anbumani’s authorised agent notifying the allocation of the mango symbol to the PMK for the 2026 Tamil Nadu and Puducherry Assembly elections. In his writ petition, he contends that the communication was improperly sent to Anbumani’s address, despite Anbumani’s tenure as party president having expired in May 2025, and that the poll panel did not recognise his own leadership status as the lawful president.
The petition also alleges that Anbumani submitted forged documents to the ECI to falsely extend his presidency, and that he convened party meetings without the approval or consent of the party founder, thereby affecting the legitimacy of his claim to leadership. Ramadoss has urged the court to direct the ECI to issue a fresh communication regarding the symbol allotment to his authorised agent at his official address in Chennai.
The dispute comes amid a long-running leadership rift within the PMK, which has seen tensions escalate between the father-son duo. Dr. Ramadoss has argued that the mango symbol is intrinsically linked to his legacy and rightful leadership of the party, raising broader questions about internal party governance ahead of the crucial elections. The court has now given the election body three weeks to respond to the petition, and further hearings are expected as the legal battle unfolds.