Chennai: Udhayanidhi Stalin, the son of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, has been appointed as the Deputy Chief Minister, a significant leap in his political career. This move not only solidifies his position in the state’s political landscape but also marks a continuation of the legacy of leaders from South India who have successfully transitioned from cinema to politics.
Highly placed sources in the CMO said on Saturday that Udhayanidhi Stalin, who has been serving as the Minister for Sports Development and Youth Affairs, will take the oath as Deputy CM on Sunday during the Cabinet reshuffle. His role in these ministries has been instrumental in his political journey, reflecting his interest in youth development and sports in the state.
He is the third Deputy Chief Minister of the state after his father, M.K. Stalin, and AIADMK leader, O. Panneerselvam (OPS).
He is also the third-generation leader from the first DMK family and holds a crucial post in the Tamil Nadu government. His grandfather, M. Karunanidhi, the DMK patriarch, was the state’s chief minister for several terms, and his son, M.K. Stalin, became the Chief Minister in 2021.
When Udhayanidhi became a minister in the Stalin cabinet in December 2022, he became the third-generation leader of the party to become a minister in the state government.
Udhaynidhi Stalin started his career as a movie producer and later became an actor.
He entered the film industry as a producer and distributor with his production studio Red Giant Movies, making films including Kuruvi (2008), Aadhavan (2009), Manmadan Ambu (2010) and 7aum Arivu (2011). His films were well-received by the audience, and his production house gained a reputation for quality entertainment.
He subsequently debuted as an actor in the romantic comedy Oru Kal Oru Kannadi (2012) and has since continued producing and starring in his own films. He stopped his acting career in 2023 to focus on politics.
The DMK family scion is currently the Youth wing president of the DMK and has extensively campaigned across the state during the 2021 assembly elections and the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Udhayanidhi Stalin, however, is also known for his controversial remarks.
While addressing a conference in September 2023 organised by the Tamil Nadu Progressive Writers Artists Association on the theme of “Eradication of Sanatana,” he remarked that “Sanatana cannot be simply opposed, but had to be eradicated” and said that it is against social justice and equality.
Besides drawing widespread condemnation from political parties and leaders for his remarks, Udhayanidhi Stalin’s statement was also slammed by the Madras High Court.
A senior Supreme Court lawyer, Vineet Jindal, also reported the remarks to the Delhi Police, calling them “provocative, inciting and defamatory”.
A letter signed by 262 notable citizens was sent to Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, who requested that the Supreme Court take up the case independently.
The Supreme Court subsequently began an investigation into the remarks. On March 4, 2024, during the hearing of a plea, the apex court rebuked Udhayanidhi Stalin over his comments and questioned why he had approached the court to consolidate the FIRs filed against him after allegedly misusing his right to freedom of speech and expression.
Udhayanidhi Stalin, however, somehow avoided the mess. With a “good grip” among the DMK leadership and grassroots cadres, he single-handedly managed the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
He criss-crossed across Tamil Nadu during the Lok Sabha polls and connected with the party cadres across the state.
Meanwhile, the opposition has slammed Udhayanidhi’s appointment as DY. CM. While the BJP mocked Udhayanidhi, claiming that “one more son will rise in Tamil Nadu politics,” the AIADMK declared that it marked the “end of DMK” in the state’s Assembly elections in 2026.
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—IANS
