C. Ponnaiyan

C. Ponnaiyan is an Indian politician and one of the important Dravidian leaders. He is a founding member of Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam party. He is the former member of the Tamil Nadu legislative assembly from Tiruchengode constituency in 1977, 1980, 1984 and 2001. He started his career as a lawyer. Attracted by the ideologies of Arignar Anna and Thanthai Periyar, he took to public life at an early age. He has served as Minister of Finance, Education, Industry, Agriculture, Cooperation, Highways, Transport, Law and IT. He was a close confidant of Former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Dr .M.G. Ramachandran and served as Minister of Finance under Former Chief Minister Dr. J. Jayalalithaa.

C. Ponnaiyan was born to Shri. Chinakutty Gounder and Smt. Nallamal in 1942. Hailing from an agrarian family in Tiruchengodu, he completed his schooling in Tirunchengodu where he was influenced by his teachers Kuppusamy, Shanmugam and Natesan to the tenets of C.N. Annadurai known as Anna). Later he went to complete his bachelor's degree in Commerce and Law subsequently practising as a Lawyer in the Madras High Court.

As Finance Minister of Dr. J. Jayalalithaa, Hon'ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu

During his school days, Ponnaiyan was an active student and also the student secretary. He was inspired by the Dravidian ideologies and inculcated a spirit of commitment to society and the scuase of Tamil by Arignar Anna whom he regarded as a role model. This fervor took the mantle when he invited C.N. Annadurai to his school as chief guest. MGR's Nadodi Mannan film which poignantly embodied the doctrines of Anna fueled the ignited mind of the teenager who had a tormented ambition to commit himself to public life and made him join the DMK in 1957.

He practised law as Junior under Mr Mohan Kumaramangalam Mr. Raghavachari. He took part in the anti Hindi agitation alongside with stalwarts C.N.Annadurai, M.G.Ramachandran, Nedunchezhian, Mathiazhagan, as it subdued the interests of Tamil Nadu. He later went to become the personal Lawyer of M.G.Ramachandran and was one of the founding members of Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam in 1972. He was one of the trusted loyalists of M.G.Ramachandran.

When Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam came to power in 1977, he was inducted as a Minister in the cabinet of Chief Minister M.G.Ramachandran. He held several portfolios includind that of Transport, Highways, Law, Cooperation, Education, Industry, Agriculture and Sports. During his tenure as Transport Minister, public transport was extended to remote villages and Tamil Nadu Government was duly awarded by the Government of India. As an Education Minister, he promoted engineering education in Tamil Nadu.He also served as a Minister of Finance, Law, IT and Food from 2001–2006 in the Cabinet of Smt J.Jayalalithaa, Former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. He was a member of Legislative Assembly of Tamil Nadu elected from Tiruchengode constituency in 1977, 1980, 1984 and 2001.

As Minister of Industries inspecting in a fair

He is married to Dr. Sarojaa Ponnaiyan, a Gynecologist and obstetrician by profession and the couple have two sons. He is known for his personal discipline, clean political image and austerity. He is also appreciated for his accessibility to the general public and humbleness.