K Ponmudy, a senior leader of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), was sworn in as the Minister for Higher Education in Tamil Nadu on Friday.
The swearing-in ceremony took place at the Raj Bhavan, with Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi administering the oath of office and secrecy to Ponmudy.
The ceremony witnessed the presence of Chief Minister M K Stalin and several other ministers, including Udhayanidhi Stalin and Ma Subramanian. Ponmudy has been assigned the higher education portfolio, which was briefly held by Backward Classes Minister R S Rajakannappan.
The subject of Khadi and Village Industries Board held previously by Rajakannappan has been restored to him.
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This comes a day after the Supreme Court pulled up Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi over the matter pertaining to the leader's reinduction to the cabinet, an issue with with the governor is in a tussle with state Chief Minister MK Stalin.
While there was no immediate official word on the matter, sources cited in a news agency PTI report said the swearing-in of Ponmudy was likely to be held this afternoon.
On Thursday, the apex Court had voiced "serious concern" over the conduct of Tamil Nadu governor Ravi for his refusal to reinduct Ponmudy as a minister in the state cabinet even after it suspended his earlier conviction.
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The Supreme Court had directed the Governor to decide on the issue within 24 hours.
The Governor had refused to reinduct Ponmudy, whose conviction and three-year sentence in a disproportionate assets case the apex court stayed recently, despite Chief Minister M K Stalin's recommendation.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin had earlier written to Governor RN Ravi, recommending that Ponmudy be reinducted into the Cabinet to the same portfolio he had held before his conviction in a disproportionate assets case by the Madras High Court.
After Tamil Nadu Governor refused to do the above, the state government moved the Supreme Court on the matter on Monday.
