MADURAI: Claiming that public anger against the ruling DMK has reached a tipping point, PMK president Anbumani Ramadoss on Saturday said the party would be voted out in the 2026 Assembly elections for failing to honour its manifesto commitments.
Speaking to reporters at the Madurai airport, Anbumani alleged that the DMK government had fulfilled only about 13% of its election promises during its tenure. “Protests by people from all sections of society have become a daily occurrence. The people have made up their minds to defeat the DMK,” he said.
Alleging economic mismanagement, the PMK leader said Tamil Nadu’s debt had surged to Rs 9.55 lakh crore, making it the highest among Indian states in terms of outstanding debt and borrowing costs. He pointed out that when the DMK assumed office, the state’s debt stood at Rs 4.30 lakh crore.
Anbumani also accused the government of neglecting agriculture, stating that the sector had recorded no growth over the past two years. Farmers who suffered crop losses due to natural calamities last year were yet to receive compensation, he alleged, calling it evidence of a weak administration.
He further charged the government with allowing rampant illegal river sand mining and quarrying, causing irreversible damage to natural resources, particularly in ecologically sensitive regions such as the Western Ghats.
On social justice, Anbumani reiterated the PMK’s demand for a caste-based census in Tamil Nadu to rationalise reservations in education and employment. He said several states, including Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Odisha and Bihar, had conducted caste surveys to assess the socio-economic status of their populations. “Chief Minister MK Stalin’s refusal to undertake a similar exercise shows a lack of commitment to social justice,” he alleged.
Responding to a query on the Tiruparankundram deepathoon controversy, Anbumani said spirituality should not be politicised and urged the government to adhere to court orders while ensuring law and order is strictly maintained.