In a significant ruling for the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK), a civil court in Chennai has refused to freeze the party’s 'mango' symbol, which has been at the center of a family dispute within the party. The decision, which comes ahead of Tamil Nadu’s upcoming assembly elections, is seen as a win for Anbumani Ramadoss, the son of PMK founder Dr. Ramadoss, as it clears the path for his faction to use the symbol in the elections.

Dr. Ramadoss had sought the court's intervention, arguing that the symbol should be frozen due to an internal party rift. He had filed a petition stating that the symbol’s use by the rival faction would create confusion among the electorate, especially as the election process is underway. However, the court ruled that intervention at this stage could disrupt the electoral process and “disturb the level playing field” for candidates.

The court's ruling emphasizes the importance of maintaining electoral integrity and refraining from passing orders that might interfere with the ongoing elections. The Election Commission had earlier stated that symbol allocation is part of the election process and any intervention would affect the fairness of the race.

This dispute dates back to 2025, when Dr. Ramadoss announced he would assume the party presidency, overriding his son's position. Anbumani, however, contested this, asserting that he remained the legitimate leader as he was appointed by the party's decision-making body.

While the court has sided with Anbumani for now, the senior Ramadoss has been vocal in his discontent, alleging bias in the Election Commission's decision to allocate the symbol to his son’s faction. As the elections draw closer, the family feud continues to be a major talking point within the party, adding a layer of complexity to the political landscape in Tamil Nadu.