Newsmaker | Old DMK hand whose writ runs in Villupuram: Who is K Ponmudi, now under ED scanner?

A DMK leader told The Indian Express that the case would not “dent the party’s image” but instead “strengthen their narrative of party leaders being harassed and targetted by the ED”.

Chain of educational institutions

Associated with the DMK for three decades, the 72-year-old leader is considered one of the party’s top leaders at the moment.

Hailing from the state’s Villupuram district, Pondmudi got a PhD and even worked as a professor for a while. He was subsequently drawn towards the DMK. He became an MLA for the first time in 1989 from the Villupuram constituency.

He is a six-time MLA and currently represents the Tirukkoyilur constituency in Kallakurichi district, commanding considerable influence in the Villupuram-Kallakurichi belt. He is also considered to be the key figure in bringing in minority votes to the DMK.

Ponmudi’s family runs a chain of educational institutions, including engineering colleges, arts and science colleges, and polytechnics under the “Surya Group of Educational Institutions” banner. While Sigamani is a first-time MP who represents Kallakuruchi, the minister’s other son, P Ashok Sigamani, is a doctor and the president of the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association.

Controversial figure

In the recent past, Ponmudi has been acquitted in two cases of disproportionate assets — in 2016 and last month.

He has also made news for his run-ins with Governor R N Ravi whose move to send a letter of dismissal to Balaji raised questions on the ambit of the governor’s office. In January, Ponmudi made hand gestures, perceived to be disrespectful, at Ravi as he walked out of the Assembly in protest against a resolution moved by Chief Minister M K Stalin against a speech.

Responding to Ravi’s statement in May 2022 that the youth should learn Hindi “for better job prospects”, Ponmudi said that Tamil Nadu considered only English and Tamil important.

“There are people who say that learning Hindi would help us get jobs. Did we get it? In our state, go and see in Coimbatore … people who sell pani puris, they are all (Hindi speakers),” he said.