S. Ramadoss, founder and leader of the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK), collapsed during an election campaign in Pallapatti, Salem, Tamil Nadu, on April 12. The 86-year-old was campaigning for PMK candidate Arul when he suddenly fell unconscious. Immediate assistance was provided by police and local leaders, and he was transported to a nearby hospital for further medical care. Currently, he is under observation, and updates on his health are pending.

In the lead-up to the Tamil Nadu assembly elections on April 23, Ramadoss has been vocal about his party's manifesto, which aims to address critical gaps in the education, health, and agriculture sectors, claiming these issues were neglected by the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK). He proposed providing free education up to class 12 and enhancing healthcare facilities in both urban and rural areas. Ramadoss also expressed concern over safety, citing high murder rates and a rise in substance abuse in the state. He promised to implement a caste-based social justice count and total prohibition of alcohol, while also aiming to create one crore jobs and fill 40,000 government vacancies in the first year if elected. The PMK positions itself as a reformist party focused on anti-drug initiatives and governance reforms as Tamil Nadu prepares for a tightly contested election.