In New Tamil Nadu Flashpoint, Governor Asks Chief Minister To Drop Minister

The DMK has admitted K Ponmudi could now lose his Assembly seat and cabinet berth. "But we have options in the Supreme Court," spokesperson Saravanan Annadurai said.

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.