Chennai: Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi has demanded Chief Minister MK Stalin drop K Ponmudi from his cabinet after the Higher Education Minister was convicted in a corruption case, sources told NDTV Wednesday afternoon. The demand is likely to develop into the latest Governor Vs government flashpoint in the southern state; the two sides are locked in conflict in the Supreme Court after the ruling DMK accused Mr Ravi of deliberately delaying clearing bills passed by the state Assembly.
The Madras High Court on Tuesday cited insufficient evidence and set aside a trial court ruling that cleared Mr Ponmudi in a disproportionate assets case, and directed the Minister and his wife appear before the court on Thursday. The trial court had acquitted Mr Ponmudi in its June verdict.
Justice N Anand Venkatesh had taken up the case suo motu.
READ | Madras High Court Tamil Nadu Minister In Disproportionate Assets Case
The DMK has admitted its leader could now lose his Assembly seat and cabinet berth. "But we have options in the Supreme Court," party spokesperson Saravanan Annadurai told reporters.
Mr Ponmudi had earlier also filed an appeal with the Supreme Court but that was dismissed.
The case dates back to the DMK's earlier government (2006-2011), when he accumulated over Rs 1.36 crore in assets. It was brought to court by the AIADMK, which after it came to power in 2011.
The Ponmudi case has added to tensions between the Tamil Nadu government and the Governor.
Earlier this month the Supreme Court told the two to meet and resolve differences. "We would like the Governor to resolve the impasse... invite the Chief Minister... sit down and discuss," it said.
READ | Supreme Court Raps Tamil Nadu Governor For Referring Bills To President
The observation came after senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, appearing for the state, told the court the Governor had referred 10 bills re-adopted by the Assembly to President Droupadi Murmu.
The Tamil Nadu government has accused the BJP-appointed Governor of deliberately delaying the bills' clearance and scuttling the state's development by "undermining the elected administration".
READ | "What Was Governor Doing For 3 Years?" Supreme Court On Tamil Nadu Bills
The Supreme Court in November expressed "serious concern" over the delay. "These bills were pending since 2020. What was he (Governor RN Ravi) doing for three years?" it asked.
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