Course correction and careful caste equations behind reshuffle by Stalin

Chennai: Chief Minister M K Stalin’s decision to seek the resignation of his senior colleague K Ponmudy from the Cabinet, following his controversial speech on Hinduism and to reallocate portfolios held by him and another powerful minister V Senthil Balaji is not merely a course correction but also reflects careful caste equations with just a year left for the 2026 polls.

Ponmudy, the Villupuram strongman, is one of the DMK's most influential and senior leaders from the era of M Karunanidhi and has been part of every government the party has formed since 1989. Ponmudy, a former professor who was associated with DMK’s precursor Dravidar Kazhagam, hit the jackpot by joining the Karunanidhi government in 1989 despite being a first-time legislator.

Through Ponmudy’s forced resignation, Stalin has sent a strong message to party seniors that no “indiscipline” or controversial speeches will be tolerated, and that seniority will not grant immunity from removal, especially ahead of the elections which is likely to be an intense multi-cornered contest.

Not long ago, the Stalin-led government fought a fierce legal battle against Governor R N Ravi for his refusal to swear-in Ponmudy as a minister once again (in March 2024) following the Supreme Court suspending his sentence in a corruption case.

“Ponmudy, a contemporary of Stalin in politics, entered the assembly alongside him in 1989. A long-time confidant of Stalin, his removal was a difficult decision. Though he had stayed out of the spotlight recently, his controversial speech comparing Shaivism and Vaishnavism to sexual positions led to his downfall,” a senior DMK leader told DH.

This is the first time in recent years that a senior Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leader has been removed from both a party post – deputy general secretary -- and the Cabinet for remarks deemed offensive to Hinduism and women. The DMK has faced ongoing criticism for careless comments by ministers and senior leaders, which frequently spark controversies, particularly regarding Hindu beliefs.

In the 2024 elections, Ponmudy’s son Gautam Sigamani was denied renomination for Kallakurichi Lok Sabha seat but was appointed party secretary for Villupuram (East) district. Ponmudy is also unlikely to secure a seat in the 2026 elections.

By assigning the significant Electricity, Excise, and Forest portfolios to S S Sivasankar, S Muthusamy, and R S Rajakannappan, Stalin has reached out to the dominant Vanniyar, Gounder, and Yadava communities, respectively.

In giving a second chance to T Mano Thangaraj, Stalin has also sent a message to the Christian Nadar community, especially significant in light of Vijay, a Christian, launching Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK).

Vanniyar support is crucial for the DMK alliance in northern Tamil Nadu, especially as the PMK, a party representing the community’s interests, is likely to join the AIADMK-BJP combine. To counter the opposition's strength in the western region, where DMK underperformed in the 2021 elections, the party must also win over Gounders. In the southern districts, Yadavas form a significant voting bloc. DMK believes that Rajakannappan's influence could sway these votes in its favor.

Senior journalist R Bhagwan Singh said Stalin was compelled to act against Ponmudy as the Chief Minister would have played into the hands of its enemy (BJP) if he had allowed his continuance in the Cabinet. “What Ponmudy did was certainly indefensible even in politics where such erratic conduct is often winked away. What he did was vulgar and distasteful and was unbecoming of someone who began his career as a professor,” he told DH.