The former Union Minister and PMK MP, Anbumani Ramadoss, left for Delhi on Sunday on an invitation from the BJP’s prime minister-designate Narendra Modi.
But it is not yet clear whether he will be inducted in the NDA Cabinet. He met BJP president Rajnath Singh on Sunday night.
Mr. Anbumani told The Hindu that any decision on his joining the government would be taken by the PMK leadership. Thus, his Delhi visit has assumed significance amid expectations that he would be offered a berth in the Cabinet. Mr. Anbumani is the only leader of a BJP ally to win a seat in Tamil Nadu, besides the BJP’s State president, Pon. Radhakrishnan.
“When the election results were out, he called Mr. Modi to congratulate him on the BJP’s historical performance. Mr. Modi asked Mr. Anbumani about his proposed visit. He told him that he would be in Delhi on Sunday,” a source close to Mr. Anbumani said.
On Saturday, Mr. Anbumani called on his father and party founder S. Ramadoss at his Thailapuram residence. Dr. Ramdoss, who is not very happy with the way his party was treated in the BJP alliance during the seat-sharing talks, has not indicated his mind on Mr. Anbumani joining the Cabinet. Dr. Ramadoss, however, has congratulated the voters of Dharmapuri on electing Mr. Anbumani and proving that the constituency was the “fortress of the PMK.”
