Chennai: Despite hosting a massive conference on Chithirai Pournami day on Sunday at Mamallapuram near Chennai to prove the party’s strength, the growing differences between party founder S Ramadoss and his son and party president Anbumani Ramadosswere evident when they shared the stage on the occasion. With less than a year left for the state election, the strains between father and son was clearly evident with senior Ramadoss making no attempt to hide his displeasure.Ramadoss used the stage to establish that he was the boss and he would decide on party affairs and also about the alliance for the forthcoming polls. When Ramadoss asserted that he would decide the alliance and indirectly pointed out at Anbumani to work for the party, Anbumani couldn’t do much but merely smile.Ramadoss mentioned Anbumani’s name only once and did not refer to him as the party president but the in-charge for the successful conduct of the conference.It might be recalled that Ramadoss last month removed Anbumani from his post as the president and ‘appointed’ him working president and declared that he would function as the founder president of the party. Anbumani reacted sharply and maintained that he will continue to lead the party in a way that honoured its founder.Anbumani’s efforts to downplay the rift with his father and cajole him did not yield any fruitful results as senior Ramadoss was harsh and made his intentions clear that anyone overruling his decisions cannot continue in the party. “You own two luxury cars and four mobile phones. You can own four more mobile phones but work hard for the party for the 2026 assembly election. Those who don’t work for the 2026 election will be removed from their post even if they are MLAs. I will throw you in the sea,” he told the gathering of the conference seated next to Anbumani.The father and son have differences in opinion on alliance issues. While Anbumani has been keen in aligning with BJP and has launched attempts to promote his wife Soumiya Anbumani in the political sphere, Ramadoss was against his son’s idea and preferred an alliance with one of the two Dravidian majors.”Ramadoss appointing his grandson P Mukundan as president of the party’s youth wing was the last straw forcing Anbumani to openly register his objection. Our leader’s (Anbumani) objection is genuine and just. Mukundan is not only a family member of the founder, but he joined the party just a few months ago. Even at Sunday’s Chithirai youth conference, Mukundan guided the party founder to the stage further irking our leader and his followers,” said a party functionary, seeking anonymity.Party functionaries openly criticised Ramadoss for his remarks and suggested he retire from politics. But Ramadoss is in no mood to step down as he said, “Don’t think I am old. I may be 87 years old, but I am still strong.” For his part, Anbumani was “careful and mature” while delivering his speech.