DMK reinstates controversial leader Ponmudy as deputy general secretary, Saminathan elevated to same post

Ponmudy fell out of good books after his speech stoked a major controversy by comparing Hindu Shaivite and Vaishnavite religious symbols to sexual positions.

Chennai: Senior leader K Ponmudy, who was removed as deputy general secretary in April for comparing Hindu Shaivite and Vaishnavite religious symbols to sexual positions, was on Tuesday reappointed to the post. 

Information and Tamil Development Minister M P Saminathan was also appointed as a deputy general secretary, taking the number of people occupying the post to seven. Others occupying the post are Kanimozhi, A Raja, Tiruchi Siva, I Periyasamy, and Anthiyur P Selvaraj. 

In a statement, Stalin said Ponmudy, one of the senior leaders who was also sacked from the Cabinet after the controversy, and Saminathan will hold the posts. 

Ponmudy fell out of the good books of the top brass after his speech at an event on April 6 stoked a major controversy by comparing Hindu Shaivite and Vaishnavite religious symbols to sexual positions. He was immediately sacked as a deputy general secretary of the DMK and later from the cabinet. 

In another statement, general secretary Durai Murugan appointed L Padmanabhan and K Eswarasamy as in-charges for Tiruppur (east) and Tiruppur (south) districts.

He also announced bifurcation of Vellore into Vellore (South) and Vellore (North) by appointing A P Nandakumar and D M Kathir Anand as in-charges. 

The changes come ahead of the 2026 Assembly polls.