Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi Declines Appointment of K Ponmudy as Minister

Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi has declined to approve Chief Minister MK Stalin’s proposal to appoint K Ponmudy as a minister following his reinstatement as an MLA.

K Ponmudy, a disqualified Tamil Nadu minister and senior DMK leader, was reinstated after the Supreme Court stayed his conviction and three-year jail term in a disproportionate asset case on March 13, 2024. The Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption initiated a case against Ponmudy and his wife, Visalakshi, back in 2011.

Ponmudy previously served as the minister for higher education and mines during the DMK administration from 2006 to 2011. Upon reinstatement, he resumed his role as a member of the Legislative Assembly, as confirmed by state legislative assembly speaker M Appavu.

Chief Minister MK Stalin wrote to Governor RN Ravi requesting the oath-taking of Ponmudy as a minister. However, Governor RN Ravi replied with a letter stating his inability to administer the oath due to the pending case and the absence of a Supreme Court decision overturning Ponmudy’s conviction.

The Governor’s response effectively prevents Ponmudy from being appointed as a minister again.

On March 1, Leader of Opposition in Tamil Nadu, Edappadi Palaniswami, corresponded with Speaker Appavu regarding Ponmudi’s disqualification as a member of the state assembly and the resultant vacancy in the assembly seat.

“In light of K. Ponmudi’s conviction under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, for possessing assets disproportionate to his known sources of income, as per the Madras High Court’s order dated December 21, 2023, and the absence of a stay from the Supreme Court on the conviction, I urge your office to address the vacancy in the Tirukkoyilur Assembly Constituency,” Palaniswami stated in his letter.