Chennai: In a swift political move, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK president MK Stalin on Friday removed senior leader and State Forest Minister K Ponmudy from the key post of Deputy General Secretary of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) following his controversial remarks on Shaivism and Vaishnavism that have sparked widespread outrage.
The controversy erupted after a video went viral showing Ponmudy allegedly making a distasteful joke involving women belonging to Shaivite and Vaishnavite sects, reportedly in the context of a sex worker. The remarks triggered sharp criticism across political lines and from within the DMK itself. DMK MP Kanimozhi condemned Ponmudy’s speech, calling it “unacceptable” and stating that “vulgar words, whatever the context, are condemnable.”
Although MK Stalin did not officially cite any reason in the statement announcing Ponmudy’s removal from the party post, the action came amidst mounting pressure from the opposition, especially the BJP. Tamil Nadu BJP vice-president Narayanan Thirupathy demanded not just Ponmudy’s removal but also his arrest, stating on social media that the minister had “maligned the women of Tamil Nadu.”
This is not the first time Ponmudy has drawn criticism for his remarks. In an earlier controversy, he had linked North Indians with selling pani puri, making a veiled dig at the push for Hindi language proficiency by stating that those selling the snack in Coimbatore were Hindi-speaking migrants.
There has been no official response from Ponmudy regarding the latest controversy as of yet.
Stalin’s prompt action in removing Ponmudy is being seen as a damage control measure to uphold the party’s public image and internal discipline. However, political analysts suggest that the fallout of the remarks may continue to echo across the state’s political landscape in the days to come.
