After Indrani Ponvasanth resigned as Madurai Mayor on Wednesday (October 15, 2025) citing ‘health’ grounds, an eerie silence fell among the DMK functionaries in the region.
Speaking to The Hindu in Madurai on Thursday (October 16), some party leaders and sympathisers said that DMK president and Chief Minister M.K. Stalin was “thoroughly disgusted” by recent events and had expressed his displeasure over the party’s functioning during a recent nerkaanal (one-on-one interview) held in Chennai.
Allegations of intra-party feuds, groupism, corruption, and interference with officials and contractors had irked the high command to such an extent that, according to one party functionary, Mr. Stalin was visibly upset over recent charges of meddling with property tax and siphoning off several lakhs from the Corporation.
A former DMK MLA, quoting the Chief Minister, said that “the government has been doing so much good for the people. We are working tirelessly. But you people (DMK functionaries) in Madurai have damaged the image so much that it is frustrating…”
Damage control
In a bid to save face for the party and as a damage control measure, Mr. Stalin announced the resignation of the five zonal chairpersons and two standing committee chairmen in the Madurai Corporation around July. Since then, party functionaries and councillors have been on edge, uncertain about who might be the next to face the axe. The monthly council meetings have also witnessed open accusations.
While supporters of the Mayor attempted to pacify opponents both within and outside the DMK, a key ally — the CPI(M) — levelled corruption allegations against the DMK, delivering an unexpected blow. Adding to the setback, Madurai MP Su. Venkatesan’s remark that the city was “stinking” according to the national ranking dealt a second, more public blow.
Above all, the AIADMK, not wanting to miss the opportunity, demanded the resignation of the Mayor — a demand that grew louder after her husband Pon Vasanth was arrested by the police as an accused. A few days ago, he was granted bail by the High Court Bench here.
Though DMK members claimed that the property tax scam probe should be expanded to include the AIADMK, which had also indulged in similar practices during its regime, the issue was sidelined. Internal pressure within the DMK led to calls for the Mayor to step down, which ultimately derailed efforts to accuse the AIADMK.
How parties chose Mayor candidates
In the past, the Mayors of Madurai always had direct contact with the respective party high commands; the rapport was personal. From the late Mayor Muthu to M. Patturajan and former Mayor C. Ramachandran, the leaders in Chennai maintained direct communication with them. Whether it was about administrative matters or party affairs, the high command stayed in close touch.
When K. Kalimuthu was a Minister in M.G.R.’s Cabinet, he announced Mr. Muthu’s name at a meeting of councillors as the choice of ‘Puratchi Thalaivar’ (as M.G.R. was known). Likewise, when M. Karunanidhi was the Chief Minister, he personally selected Mr. C.R. (as C. Ramachandran was known in Madurai) as the party’s candidate for Mayor.
After Karunanidhi’s Madurai-based son M.K. Alagiri became the power centre in the southern districts, he began deciding the party’s Mayor candidate, with the high command’s approval. For instance, although there were many eligible contenders, Thenmozhi Gopinathan was cleared as the Mayor of Madurai because her nomination had Mr. Alagiri’s backing, and her husband Gopinathan was a staunch supporter of him.
From then on, the personal touch or rapport between the high command and the Mayor took a back seat, senior DMK leaders said.
In March 2022, although there were plenty of contenders, Ms. Indrani’s name was cleared for the Mayor’s post in Madurai after Minister Palanivel Thiaga Rajan recommended her, as her husband Pon Vasanth was known to be loyal to him. From day one, she maintained a low profile and spoke very little to the media.
However, when the property tax scam surfaced, Mr. Thiaga Rajan was deeply disappointed. Many key leaders in the party distanced themselves, and the demand for Ms. Indrani’s resignation grew so strong that the high command had to intervene and launch a damage-control operation.
New face
With Assembly elections fast approaching, the DMK may not be inclined to immediately replace Ms. Indrani with a new face, as that could create fresh problems. For the time being, officials may be entrusted with the task of running the administration, according to party functionaries.
Published – October 16, 2025 06:16 pm IST
