Chennai, Sept. 12 -- Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) founder S Ramadoss expelled his son and former Union minister Anbumani Ramadoss from the party on Thursday, in a move that will most likely result in a split in one of the Bharatiya Janata Party's important allies in the state.

Ramadoss, 85, and Anbumani have been sparring since over appointments in the party. In April, Ramadoss removed his son Anbumani from his position as PMK's president and took over the party. The feud escalated in August when he accused Anbumani of planting a bug in his office, a claim currently being investigated by the police.

Leaders of the BJP, the AIADMK, and family friends tried to mediate between the two most powerful people in one of the state's largest caste...