DMK Reinstates K Ponmudy as Deputy General Secretary After Controversial Remarks Scandal

K Ponmudy, who faced significant backlash over controversial comments regarding women, has been reinstated to his position within the DMK party leadership structure.

Chennai:

The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) party has officially reinstated K Ponmudy, former Tamil Nadu Forest Minister, to his previous role as one of the party's Deputy General Secretaries on Tuesday. This decision comes months after he was removed from his party position in April following misogynistic remarks that sparked widespread criticism.

The controversy erupted when Ponmudy made inappropriate Shaivite-Vaishnavite comments in relation to a sex worker, which many found deeply offensive. In a video circulating at the time - which could not be independently verified - he was heard sharing a vulgar conversation that was widely condemned as demeaning to women, despite his preemptive disclaimer asking women in attendance not to "mistake him."

At the time of the incident, DMK MP Kanimozhi publicly denounced Ponmudy's speech, calling for accountability and describing his remarks as both "unacceptable" and "disgusting."

In the same announcement, the party appointed Minister MP Saminathan to an identical position, bringing the total number of Deputy General Secretaries within DMK to seven.

Party sources revealed that Ponmudy's reinstatement was influenced by two primary factors. Despite his demotion, he remained actively engaged with party members, continuing to meet with cadres and working to maintain morale. Additionally, the move is understood to be a strategic outreach to the Udayar community, of which Ponmudy is a prominent member, ahead of upcoming elections.

The elevation of Information & Publicity Minister MP Saminathan represents a calculated effort to strengthen DMK's influence in western Tamil Nadu, traditionally an area dominated by AIADMK chief Edappadi K Palaniswami. Saminathan, who belongs to the landowning Gounder community, fills a leadership position that had remained vacant since the resignation of senior DMK figure and former Union Minister Subbulakshmi Jagadeesan in 2022.

While DMK's performance in this region during the 2021 Assembly elections was not particularly strong, the party achieved remarkable success by winning all Lok Sabha seats in the area during the 2024 general election.

Following these appointments, the DMK now operates with seven Deputy General Secretaries, including MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, former Union Minister A Raja, Rajya Sabha MP Tiruchi Siva, Anthiyur P Selvaraj, and Rural Development Minister I Periyasamy.