Stalin sacks Ponmudy from party post over his ‘vulgar’ remarks

CHENNAI: Chief Minister and DMK president MK Stalin on Friday stripped state Forest Minister K Ponmudy of the post of party deputy general secretary following a backlash over his alleged ‘vulgar’ speech at a recent party workers’ meeting.

Not waiting for his general secretary Duraimurugan to make the announcement, Chief Minister Stalin himself notified the sacking of Ponmudi and replaced him with party propaganda secretary Tiruchy R Siva, all in an hour on Friday morning.

Earlier in the day, DMK parliamentary party leader Kanimozhi Karunanidhi condemned Ponmudy's remarks, saying, "The recent speech of minister Ponmudi is unacceptable. No matter for what reason it was spoken, such vulgar speeches are condemnable."

The ruling party cracked its whip at the senior minister after condemnation poured in from various quarters for his comments laced in sexual innuendo. Shortly after the party chief notified the surprise shake up in the party organisation, 'Tiruchy' Siva called on Stalin at party headquarters Anna Arivalayam where almost every top leader of the party was present.

Ponmudy is not new to facing political backlash for hitting below the belt. He was relieved of the Higher Education portfolio in September 2024 and was allotted Forest.

Ponmudy was in the news last year when he made a questionable comment about the beneficiaries of Vidiyal Payanam, the free bus travel scheme for women in the state.

Meanwhile, DMK sources privy to the development admitted that the sacking was on the cards and not an outcome of the minister's recent utterances. "The speed at which Tiruchy Siva was received at Arivalayam after his appointment would show that the sacking was not reactionary. The high command has been unhappy with Ponmudy for a while now. This was coming. Both the earlier change of portfolio and today's sacking were the results of that unhappiness," said a party source, unwilling to be quoted.

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