Udhayanidhi Stalin's elevation marks the beginning of another generational change in the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam.
Published Sep 28, 2024 | 10:11 PM ⚊ Updated Sep 28, 2024 | 10:11 PM
Udhayanidhi with father and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin. (Supplied)
Tamil Nadu’s Sports and Youth Welfare Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin was elevated as the deputy chief minister on Saturday, 28 September. He has also been given additional charge of Planning and Development portfolio, according to a press release from the Governor’s office.
Udhayanidhi Stalin’s elevation marks the beginning of another generational change in the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK). Ahead of his recent US visit, Chief Minister MK Stalin had dropped hints of elevating his son Udhayanidhi.
With this, MK Stalin has put in a place a succession plan for DMK in the run up to Tami Nadu assembly elections 2026.
Minister RS Raja Kannappan had “inadvertently” addressed Udhayanidhi as the deputy chief minister this August. DMK leaders were expecting an announcement regarding 47-year-old Udhayanidhi’s promotion in the Cabinet in August but the decision was finally implemented on Saturday.
Udhayanidhi, the DMK youth wing secretary, successfully contested the Assembly polls from Chennai’s Chepakkam-Tiruvallikeni segment in 2021. He was made a minister on 14 December 2022.
Before entering active politics in March 2018, Udhayanidhi had donned the hats of producer and actor. His last film was Maamannan, released in 2023.
Udhayanidhi Stalin unleashed an electrifying campaign in 2021, often sparking controversies. At an election campaign rally in South Tamil Nadu, he held up a brick, saying he had brought AIIMS, Madurai, with him, referring to the unkept promise of an AIIMS in the temple city.
His reference to the deaths of Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley, too, created a controversy. He said they died because of the pressure from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The comments won him a notice from the Election Commission.
Udhayanidhi’s remark on sanatana dharma, too, courted controversy. Addressing a conference organised by the Tamil Nadu Progressive Writers Association at Thenampet in Chennai, he said “Sanatana cannot be simply opposed but had to be eradicated” since it was against social justice and equality.
Though the BJP latched on the anti-sanatana remark, it had little effect in Tamil Nadu. However, Udhayanidhis’ remark sparked a nationwide debate on Sanatana.
Meanwhile, political circles in Tamil Nadu were abuzz with rumours that Stalin might go for a Cabinet revamp, with his sights set on the 2026 Assembly elections.
Besides being the Minister for Sports and Youth Welfare, Udhayanidhi also oversees the special programme implementation. After becoming active in politics, Udhayanidhi held panchayat council meetings, and led the DMK youth brigade in rejuvenating water bodies.
He took a strong stand against NEET, and led several protests and demonstrations with the DMK’s students’ wing. He visited the families of students who had died of suicide.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, he was actively involved in relief works. More than one lakh families got help in the form of medicines and food items during the lockdown days.
Udhayanidhi protested against the Citizenship Amendment Act and took to the streets with the youth brigade. Udhayanidhi protested against the Citizenship Amendment Act and took to the streets with the youth brigade.
He organised a massive statewide protest against the central government’s decision to bifurcate the Anna University. Following strong protests, the central government withdrew its decision. He was also in the forefront of the anti-Hindi imposition move.
Udhayanidhi has been credited with holding the Chess Olympiad, Tamil Nadu’s proudest initiative. He was also instrumental in bringing to Chennai the Formula 4 car racing.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
