| Dr. K. Ponmudi | |
| Birth Date: | 1950 8, df=y |
| Birth Place: | T. Edaiyar, Tirukoilur Taluk, South Arcot district, Madras. |
| Residence: | Villupuram |
| Office: | Cabinet Minister Government of Tamil Nadu |
| Minister: | Minister for Higher Education |
| Term Start: | 22 March 2024 |
| 1Blankname: | Chief Minister |
| 1Namedata: | M. K. Stalin |
| Predecessor: | Raja Kannappan |
| Term Start1: | 7 May 2021 |
| Term End1: | 21 December 2023 |
| 1Blankname1: | Chief Minister |
| 1Namedata1: | M. K. Stalin |
| Predecessor1: | K. P. Anbalagan |
| Successor1: | Raja Kannappan |
| Term Start2: | 13 May 2006 |
| Term End2: | 15 May 2011 |
| 1Blankname2: | Chief Minister |
| 1Namedata2: | M. Karunanidhi |
| Predecessor2: | C. V. Shanmugam |
| Successor2: | P. Palaniappan |
| Minister3: | Minister for Transport & Highways |
| 1Blankname3: | Chief Minister |
| 1Namedata3: | M. Karunanidhi |
| Term Start3: | 13 May 1996 |
| Term End3: | 13 May 2001 |
| Predecessor3: | K. A. Sengottaiyan |
| Successor3: | Nainar Nagendran |
| Minister4: | Minister for Health |
| Term Start4: | 27 January 1989 |
| Term End4: | 30 January 1991 |
| 1Blankname4: | Chief Minister |
| 1Namedata4: | M. Karunanidhi |
| Predecessor4: | P. U. Shanmugam |
| Successor4: | S. Muthusamy |
| Office5: | Member of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly |
| Term Start5: | 2016 |
| Predecessor5: | L. Venkatesan |
| Constituency5: | Tirukkoyilur |
| Term Start6: | 1996 |
| Term End6: | 2011 |
| Predecessor6: | D. Janardhanan |
| Successor6: | C. V. Shanmugam |
| Constituency6: | Villupuram |
| Term Start7: | 1989 |
| Term End7: | 1991 |
| Predecessor7: | M. Mani Rajarathinam |
| Successor7: | D. Janardhanan |
| Constituency7: | Villupuram |
| Party: | Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam |
| Spouse: | Visalakshi[1] |
| Children: | Dr Gowtham Sigamani,Dr Ashok Sigamani[2] |
K. Ponmudi (born Deivasigamani K, 19 August 1950) is an Indian politician and the Minister for Higher Education of Tamil Nadu,[3] who was disqualified in 2023 after the Madras High Court convicted him in the disproportionate assets case.[4] [5] He was the Minister for Higher Education of Tamil Nadu from 2006 to 2011.[6] He was born in T. Edaiyar in the Villupuram district. He has a bachelor's degree in law, a master's degree in history, political science and public Administration and a doctorate in political science. He is an alumnus of Annamalai University.[7] Before entering professional politics, he was a professor in the Villupuram government college. He has been elected to the Tamil Nadu assembly five times. From 1989 to 1991 during Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam rule he was the Minister for Health, and from 1996 to 2001 he was the Minister for Transport and Highways.[8] [9] He authored a book titled Dravidian Movement in India and Black Movement in the U.S.A.[10]
On 19 December 2023, The Madras High Court Convicted him in Disproportionate assets case for amassing assets during his tenure as minister for Mines and Minerals in 2006–2011 DMK Government.[11] [12] On 21 December 2023, He and his wife were sentenced to three years imprisonment as well as to a fine of ₹50 lakhs each by the Madras High Court. The court stayed the sentence imposed on them to appeal before the Supreme Court for 30 days. As a result, Ponmudi was disqualified as an MLA and minister as per Representation of the People Act, 1951.[13] [14]
| Elections | Constituency | Party | Result | Vote % | Opposition Candidate | Opposition Party | Opposition Vote % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Villupuram | DMK | Won | 47.18 | ABDUL LATHEEF S | INC | 23.39[15] |
| 1991 | Lost | 33.37 | D. JANAARDHANAN | ADMK | 48.82[16] | ||
| 1996 | Won | 58.24 | PANNEERSELVAM, S.S. | ADMK | 25.90[17] | ||
| 2001 | Won | 47.45 | R.PASUPATHY | PMK | 45.86[18] | ||
| 2006 | Won | 46.87 | PASUPATHY.R | ADMK | 40.56[19] | ||
| 2011 | Lost | 45.19 | C. V. Shanmugam | ADMK | 52.18[20] [21] | ||
| 2016 | Tirukkoyilur | Won | 49.80 | GOTHANDARAMAN G | ADMK | 37.44[22] | |
| 2021 | Won | 56.56 | VAT.KALIVARADHAN | BJP | 26.14[23] | ||