In a fresh bout of confrontation with Tamil Nadu government, Governor RN Ravi deferred the swearing-in ceremony of senior DMK leader and former Minister K Ponmudy despite Chief Minister MK Stalin's request. On Wednesday, CM Stalin wrote to Governor advocating for the reinstatement of Ponmudy as a cabinet minister on Wednesday evening or Thursday morning.
The appeal aimed to expedite Ponmudy's return to the cabinet came after a Supreme Court ruling which stayed his conviction and suspended the three-year imprisonment sentence previously handed down by the Madras High Court.
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K. Ponmudy, who had previously held the position of Higher Education Minister, was disqualified as an MLA following the Madras High Court's verdict in December 2023 which sentenced him to three years in jail for amassing wealth disproportionate to his known sources of income.
On Thursday, Governor RN Ravi also flew to Delhi for a 3-day visit. Sources revealed that the Governor's trip was scheduled to seek legal counsel in Delhi regarding Ponmudi's swearing-in, according to a report on IANS.
Ponmudi, an influential figure from Villupuram, is recognized as a DMK stalwart in the state's north. His inclusion in the Cabinet is expected to bolster the party for the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court's reversal of the conviction seemingly cleared the path for Ponmudy's political comeback. However, the Governor's hesitation has reignited political tensions in the state marking yet another chapter in the ongoing stand-off between the Tamil Nadu government and the Governor's office.