While the Lok Sabha poll campaign scene is hotting up in Tamil Nadu with leader after leader hitting the streets, conspicuous by his absence is the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) founder S. Ramadoss.
As someone known until recently for travelling extensively and addressing meetings, Dr. Ramadoss has now confined himself to his Thailapuram residence, near Tindivanam, as he is yet to reconcile himself to PMK’s alliance with the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) led by actor Vijayakant.
A few days ago, Dr. Ramadoss, who had earlier undergone bypass surgery, consulted his doctors for a regular check up and was advised rest for a week before hitting the roads for campaigning.
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“But he is mentally not prepared for a campaign for now,” said a PMK source close to him.
Though he is not against an alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as he was directly involved in the talks with senior BJP leaders and an interlocutor, the inclusion of the DMDK in the alliance has unsettled him.
“It took a month for his son and former Union Minister Anbumani Ramadoss to persuade his father to change his mind. But the attitude of the BJP towards the PMK after the DMDK came forward to join the alliance hurt him a lot and he even contemplated calling off the alliance,” said the source.
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While PMK candidates in this election hope that he would finally get over his sense of hurt and campaign form them, Dr. Ramadoss, however, is yet to take a decision on plunging into the campaign. The PMK leader, who is in regular touch with his friends and well-wishers, has strangely turned reclusive for now, causing anxiety in party circles.