On February 2, 2026, the Madras High Court ordered a notice to be sent to the Election Commission (EC) in response to a petition filed by S Ramadoss, the founder-president of the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK). The legal challenge seeks to compel the EC to allot the mango symbol to Ramadoss's faction and ensure that all official communications are sent directly to him. The First Bench, led by Chief Justice M M Shrivastava and Justice G Arul Murugan, has scheduled the matter for further hearing in three weeks.
During the court proceedings, advocate K Arul, representing Ramadoss, highlighted that the EC had mistakenly sent symbol-related documents to the address of Anbumani, who is currently not a member of the party. The Chief Justice remarked that they would not hear the arguments of senior counsel NL Rajah, who attempted to speak on behalf of Anbumani, emphasizing that he was not a party to the litigation.
- Allegations of forgery — Ramadoss claims Anbumani used forged documents to mislead the Election Commission.
- Previous court proceedings — The documents in question were challenged in the Delhi High Court on December 4, 2025.
- Symbol freezing threat — The EC's counsel previously suggested the possibility of freezing the mango symbol due to the ongoing dispute.
Ramadoss has expressed concern over the lack of communication from the EC in response to his requests over the past month. The Madras High Court's decision now raises questions about whether the EC should be compelled to recognize Ramadoss as the sole authority for the PMK’s symbol allotment. This case not only highlights internal conflicts within the PMK but also sets a precedent for how party symbols are allocated and contested in Indian politics.
