Observers of Tamil Nadu politics say the leader is worried over his weakening grip over the Vanniyars who catapulted the PMK in north central Tamil Nadu. The PMK was floated in the mid-80s from a caste association and its fortunes rose till the 2004 elections. ‘‘Continuously being in power since 1998, PMK has become more of a commercial enterprise than a political movement,’’ says researcher Dharamarajan.

The PMK was part of the NDA government and crossed sides just before the 2004 Lok Sabha elections. In the run-up to the 2006 Assembly elections, the PMK settled for 31 seats in the DMK-led alliance and won only 18, areas considered Vanniyar strongholds. ‘‘We lost only because our opponents consolidated,’’ says Dhanaraju. But history is not on PMK’s side either: Tamil Nadu Toilers Party, a Vanniyar party, was prominent between 1950 and 1962 but disintegrated afterwards.

Ramadoss is looking for a turnaround, resuscitating the same issues that helped him establish the PMK.

Not that he admits it. ‘‘I am not doing anything for votes,’’ he protests. Tell that to the DMK.