Minister Ponmudy: Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi has declined to agree with Chief Minister MK Stalin’s suggestion to make K Ponmudy a minister again. This decision came after Ponmudy was reinstated as a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA).
K Ponmudy, who is a disqualified minister and a senior leader of the DMK party, regained his MLA status following a Supreme Court ruling. The court put a hold on his conviction and three-year prison sentence in a case related to possessing assets disproportionate to his known sources of income. This ruling was made on March 13, 2024.
Despite Ponmudy’s return to the legislative body, Governor RN Ravi has opted not to approve his appointment as a minister, rejecting the recommendation put forth by Chief Minister MK Stalin.
In 2011, the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption filed a case against Ponmudy and his wife, Visalakshi. This happened during Ponmudy’s previous tenure as a minister for higher education and mines in the DMK government, which lasted from 2006 to 2011.
Recently, M Appavu, the speaker of the state legislative assembly, reinstated Ponmudy. This means that Ponmudy has been allowed back as a member of the Legislative Assembly. The speaker stated that Ponmudy’s membership in the state assembly has been restored, allowing him to continue his duties.
Chief Minister MK Stalin recently wrote a letter to Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi. In the letter, he requested that DMK senior leader Ponmudy be allowed to take the oath as a minister.
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Governor RN Ravi’s Response
However, Governor RN Ravi responded to the state government’s request on Sunday. In his letter, he explained that he could not administer the oath of office to Ponmudy, who is a DMK senior leader and former Higher Education Minister. He cited the pending case in the Supreme Court, stating that Ponmudy’s conviction has not yet been overturned by the court. The governor has stated that he cannot reappoint Ponmudy as a minister.
Earlier, on March 1, the Leader of the Opposition in Tamil Nadu, Edappadi Palaniswami, wrote to Speaker Appavu regarding the disqualification of K. Ponmudi as a member of the state assembly. This resulted in a vacancy in the assembly seat.
CM Stalin’s Request
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin had asked Governor RN Ravi to appoint K Ponmudy as a minister. However, the governor declined to do so. Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi has turned down Chief Minister MK Stalin’s suggestion to appoint K Ponmudy as a minister. This decision comes after Ponmudy was reinstated as a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA).
Ponmudy, a disqualified minister and senior leader of the DMK party, regained his MLA status following a Supreme Court decision. The court halted his conviction and three-year prison sentence in a case related to owning assets disproportionate to his known income sources on March 13, 2024.
In 2011, the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption filed a case against Ponmudy and his wife, Visalakshi. This happened while Ponmudy served as a minister for higher education and mines in the DMK government from 2006 to 2011.
The Speaker of the state legislative assembly, M Appavu, has reinstated Ponmudy. This means that Ponmudy will continue as a member of the Legislative Assembly. The Speaker stated that Ponmudy’s membership in the state assembly has been restored.
In the meantime, Chief Minister MK Stalin wrote a letter to Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi. In the letter, he requested that DMK senior leader Ponmudy be allowed to take the oath as a minister. Governor RN Ravi has conveyed through a letter to the state government that he cannot administer the oath of office to Ponmudy, a DMK senior leader and former Higher Education Minister. This is because Ponmudy’s conviction has not been overturned by the Supreme Court, and the case is still pending. Additionally, the governor has stated his inability to reappoint Ponmudy as a minister.
On March 1, the Leader of the Opposition in Tamil Nadu, Edappadi Palaniswami, wrote to Speaker Appavu concerning the disqualification of K. Ponmudi as a member of the state assembly. This led to the announcement of a vacancy in the assembly seat.
In a letter, Edappadi Palaniswami mentioned that K. Ponmudy, who represents the Tirukkoyilur Assembly Constituency and served as a minister in the current government, was convicted by the Madras High Court. The court found Ponmudi guilty of violating the Prevention of Corruption Act, of 1988, by possessing assets disproportionate to his known income. This conviction was declared on December 21, 2023. Palaniswami pointed out that despite the conviction, the Supreme Court has not intervened by halting the High Court’s decision.
Also Read: Will Ponmudi Become MLA Again? What is the Supreme Court Decision?
