Tamil Nadu Forest Minister K Ponmudy has sparked a major controversy after a video surfaced showing him making vulgar and misogynistic remarks during a public speech. The incident has drawn widespread condemnation from across the political spectrum, women’s rights activists, and even senior leaders within the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK).

In the now-viral video, Ponmudy is heard recounting a derogatory conversation involving a sex worker, prefaced with a disclaimer asking women not to misunderstand his comments. The speech, criticised for its misogynistic tone and caste undertones, has provoked fierce backlash and calls for his immediate resignation from the Cabinet.

Popular singer and women’s rights advocate Chinmayi Sripada slammed the minister’s speech on X (formerly Twitter), saying, “This is a joke. The joke is on us.” She questioned the moral disconnect between the speech and the legacy of Dravidian reformers like E.V. Periyar, who championed women’s rights and anti-caste ideologies.

DMK sacks Ponmudy from key party role

Responding to the outrage, DMK chief and Chief Minister MK Stalin announced Ponmudy’s removal from the position of Deputy General Secretary of the party. However, no official reason was provided for his dismissal from the party post, and notably, he continues to serve in the Cabinet.

The limited action has triggered criticism from within the DMK itself. Senior leader and Thoothukudi MP K Kanimozhi expressed concern over the remarks, stating they were “unacceptable” and that accountability must be upheld. BJP leader Khushbu Sundar also joined the chorus, urging the DMK to match its pro-women rhetoric with concrete action.

Past controversies and growing scrutiny

This is not the first time Ponmudy has made controversial statements. In the past, he made dismissive remarks about women benefiting from free bus rides and described migrant workers in a derogatory manner. These repeated instances have raised questions about his suitability for public office.

The timing of the latest controversy is particularly sensitive for the ruling party, which is gearing up for a crucial Assembly election next year. The DMK has been vocally targeting the BJP on key state issues such as Hindi imposition, delimitation, and the NEET examination policy — but the party now finds itself defending a minister accused of undermining its core principles on gender and social justice.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) skipper Rajat Patidar has openly criticised his team’s middle-order collapse during their six-wicket defeat against Delhi Capitals (DC) at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. Despite a promising start, RCB failed to maintain momentum, crumbling under pressure as spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Vipraj Nigam turned the game around.

In a post-match statement, Patidar expressed disappointment at the team’s poor shot selection and lack of composure. “60 for one, and then 90 for four — that is not acceptable,” he said. Though Patidar acknowledged that the batters were in good mental space and showed intent early on, he criticised their inability to assess the conditions properly.

Phil Salt gave RCB a blazing start, taking the score to 61/1 within the fourth over. But a series of quick wickets saw them slide to 91/4 and eventually post a below-par 163/7. Tim David’s late 37-run knock offered some resistance, but it was too little, too late.

“We thought it would be a nice batting track. We were lacking in assessing the conditions and the situation,” Patidar added.

KL Rahul guides DC to comfortable win

Player of the Match KL Rahul anchored DC’s chase with a composed unbeaten 93, helping his side reach the target with 13 balls to spare. Speaking after the match, Rahul credited his sharp reading of the wicket to his time behind the stumps.

“It was slightly tricky, but consistent and one-paced. Watching 20 overs from behind the stumps helped me assess the pitch,” Rahul said. Familiarity with the ground also played a role: “This is my home ground, I know it better than anyone else,” he added.

Rahul’s calculated shot selection and deep understanding of field placements were pivotal in navigating the chase.

Delhi Capitals skipper Axar Patel lauded his team’s growing confidence, as they extended their winning streak to four matches. He revealed that bowling spin in the powerplay was a strategic decision based on surface behaviour and match-up analysis.

“Everyone is playing with confidence. I felt RCB preferred pacers, so we introduced spin early,” Axar said.

He also heaped praise on Rahul for his adaptability and composure: “Having a player like him, who can change positions and play mature innings, is a huge asset. He’s carried his Champions Trophy form here.”

In a politically significant development, the BJP has invited nominations for the post of Tamil Nadu state president, just ahead of Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s visit to Chennai. The move has sparked renewed attention on the party’s internal dynamics and potential revival of ties with its former ally, the AIADMK.

The BJP’s Tamil Nadu unit, hours before Shah’s arrival on Thursday night, announced that contenders for the top state post must have at least ten years of party membership. This condition effectively excludes the current state chief K Annamalai from contesting, as he joined the party in 2020 and became state president in 2021 — within 11 months of joining.

Although the rule existed earlier, a senior party leader clarified that its enforcement depends on the party’s high command, indicating potential flexibility.

Shah’s Tamil Nadu visit and key meetings

Amit Shah’s trip marks his first to Tamil Nadu since the BJP and AIADMK restarted informal alliance talks in March. During the visit, the Home Minister is expected to meet senior BJP leaders and press representatives, followed by a discussion with RSS ideologue and Thuglaq editor S Gurumurthy. Annamalai also met Gurumurthy on Thursday evening at the latter’s Mylapore residence.

Annamalai confirmed Shah’s visit, stating, “He often comes to take ground-level feedback. As of now, I’m only authorised to say that he is coming and will leave tomorrow evening.”

Alliance talks in focus ahead of 2026 polls

The timing of the leadership selection and Shah’s visit has intensified speculation about alliance talks with the AIADMK, which broke ties with the BJP in 2023, blaming Annamalai’s remarks on Dravidian party founders. AIADMK leader Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) had met Shah in New Delhi on March 26, sparking rumours of reconciliation ahead of the 2026 assembly elections.

Though Shah later hinted at a potential alliance via a post on X, EPS denied any specific discussions, saying decisions will be made closer to the elections.

Besides Annamalai, the membership clause also affects another potential contender — Tirunelveli MLA Nainar Nagendran, who joined the BJP in 2017. Despite being the party’s floor leader in the state assembly, his eight-year tenure falls short of the eligibility mark.

Political tensions with ruling DMK escalate

Amit Shah also used the visit to attack the DMK-led government, accusing it of corruption. “Tamil Nadu people are fed up with DMK’s corruption. That’s why DMK is using the delimitation issue as a cover-up,” he posted on X. The DMK hit back, with organising secretary RS Bharathi accusing the BJP of misusing federal agencies to target opposition parties.

Bharathi noted that Shah had also levelled similar corruption allegations during his 2018 visit — a time when the AIADMK, now BJP’s former ally, was in power.