Udhayanidhi Stalin grabbing the spotlight during flood relief work in Chennai has raised questions about what it means for senior DMK ministers.
Published Oct 22, 2024 | 12:00 PM ⚊ Updated Nov 26, 2024 | 2:49 PM
Dy CM Udhayanidhi Stalin during Chennai rain (X)
Udhayanidhi Stalin knew the importance of being counted, and acknowledging the people’s hardships during hard times.
People, too, expect support — even if it is emotional — during adversities. It instills in them a feeling of belonging, being counted and cared for, and most significantly, being important.
Elevated as the deputy chief minister in his father MK Stalin’s Cabinet on 28 September, the onset of the northeast monsoon over Tamil Nadu gave Udhayanidhi a much-needed fillip to win hearts.
As the monsoon poured woes, Udhayanidhi, clad in a white T-shirt, sweatpants, sneakers, and a jacket pulled over, visited the rain-hit areas, and control rooms, and held discussions with officials on the ground. He looked like an altruist hero straight from the movies as he went around the city in the dead of the night.
Senior Tamil Nadu ministers KN Nehru, M Subramanian, PK Sekar Babu, and MP Dayanidhi Maran among others were present during his inspections.
The government and DMK’s PR machinery went on an overdrive and ensured that Udhayanidhi’s night round received good media milage, so much so that he overshadowed the visits of the chief minister and other ministers.
None of the DMK leaders complained, at least in public, though the publicity Udhayanidhi received sparked a debate in the state.
The BJP, however, did not remain silent. It went public, criticising Udhayanidhi.
Udhayanidhi ventured into the field at midnight to assess areas prone to flooding, even amid heavy downpours. He visited several areas including the banks of Narayanapuram lake situated between Pallikaranai and Kovilambakkam.
He engaged directly with the public, listened to their concerns, and directed officials to take necessary actions.
The deputy chief minister also took the time to meet with personnel involved in flood prevention efforts, providing them with refreshments, and inspected the estuary where the Cooum River meets the sea near Napier Bridge.
After reviewing the dredging at the river’s mouth, he also visited the control room set up in Chennai’s Ripon building and sought updates from officials regarding the drainage of rainwater.
Talking about Udhayanidhi’s role in flood relief, Minister PK Sekar Babu said at a press conference, “Dy CM is present at the field 24/7 despite the rain. People recognise his commitment, likening his efforts to those of his grandfather and father. He is proving his mettle in the political arena.”
Tamil Nadu BJP Vice President Narayanan Tirupathy told South First, “Udhayanidhi has been put on the spotlight, which gets him all the attention from the public. It is part of politics. But he isn’t fit enough to be a DY CM.”
Tirupathy added, “He is not mature enough to be in the position.”
On Udhayanidhi gaining prominence, political analyst Ravindran Duraisamy told South First, “One can become a leader only after proving himself to the public.”
He observed that whether the move draws criticism from outsiders is irrelevant since parties, including senior DMK ministers, appear to accept him being there.
Elaborating, he said, “Currently, Stalin is the powerhouse DMK with Udhayanidhi positioned to lead alongside him. He understands and fulfills his role as the Dy CM. There may be criticism regarding Udhayanidhi’s prominence, particularly with senior leaders sidelined. However, the party leaders appear to accept that he will be in the spotlight.”
(Edited by Neena).
