 Anbil Dharmalingam was one of the founder-members of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK).When the DMK was elected to power in 1967, Dharmalingam served as the Minister for Local Administration and Agriculture a various times.At a rally held in North Arcot district on 7 and 8 April 1973 in which Dharmalingam and five other Ministers presided, he declared that formation of an independent Tamil Nadu was the aim of the DMK.