Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi has deferred the swearing-in of senior DMK leader and former minister K Ponmudy, creating tension between the Raj Bhavan and the state government led by Chief Minister M K Stalin. The move comes after the Supreme Court stayed Ponmudy's conviction in a disproportionate assets case, prompting a reconsideration of his position in the Cabinet. Ponmudy, a veteran politician and DMK deputy general secretary from Villupuram district, had his Assembly seat for Thirukkoyilur declared vacant after being sentenced to three years in jail by the Madras High Court in December 2023. The decision was overturned when the Supreme Court stayed his conviction on March 11, leading to a swift response from the Tamil Nadu Assembly: Speaker M Appavu on Wednesday rescinded his earlier notification declaring Thirukkoyilur as vacant and the CM sent a request to the Raj Bhavan for Ponmudy's swearing-in on Thursday. The Governor, questioning the legal propriety of reinducting Ponmudy into the Cabinet, delayed the oath-taking ceremony citing the need for further legal consultation. According to sources, the CM sought the swearing-in ceremony on Wednesday or Thursday. However, the Governor's planned three-day visit to Delhi has delayed Ponmudy's reinduction into the Cabinet.
