10 Facts To Know About Udhayanidhi Stalin, The Next Deputy Chief Minister-In-Waiting Of Tamil Nadu

The DMK party cadres and leaders are strongly in favor of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin's Udhayanidhi Stalin assuming the role of deputy chief minister. However, the final decision rests with party president and Chief Minister Stalin. 

Written by: Analiza Pathak Edited by: Analiza Pathak

Published: July 19, 2024, 10:53 AM IST

Share

Share Article

• Facebook
• WhatsApp
• X
• Email
• Telegram
• Linkedin

https://www.india.com/news/india/10-facts-to-know-about-udhayanidhi-stalin-the-next-deputy-chief-minister-in-waiting-of-tamil-nadu-7097673/ Copy

उदयनिधि स्टालिन

The ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) government in Tamil Nadu is abuzz with talks of elevating sports minister Udhayanidhi Stalin to the position of deputy chief minister. This move, if materialized, is believed to be a strategic advantage for the party in the upcoming 2026 assembly elections, as suggested by a senior party leader. The DMK party cadres and leaders are strongly in favor of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin’s son assuming the role of deputy chief minister. While the enthusiasm for this potential promotion is evident among the party members, DMK organizing secretary RS Bharathi has clarified that the final decision rests with party president and Chief Minister Stalin.

Drawing parallels to the past, this move echoes the ascension of MK Stalin to the position of deputy chief minister following the 2009 Lok Sabha elections. Udhayanidhi Stalin, the youth wing leader and MLA from Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni constituency, entered the DMK cabinet as a minister in December 2022, marking a significant milestone in his political career.

Looking ahead to the 2026 Tamil Nadu assembly elections, party insiders are keen on positioning Udhayanidhi Stalin as the deputy to his father, Chief Minister MK Stalin. Currently overseeing key ministries related to youth welfare, sports development, special program implementation, and poverty programme and rural indebtedness ministry.

Here are 10 facts about Tamil Nadu’s potential Deputy CM

1. Udhayanidhi Stallin won from the Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni assembly constituency in the 2021 assembly election.
2. He entered the cabinet after a year and was instrumental in ending the AIADMK rule that had lasted a decade.
3. Before joining the cabinet, he introduced a robotic sewer cleaner to replace manual scavengers in Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni.
4. He is the grandson of DMK great, M Karunanidhi, the longest-serving CM of the state.
5. His father, MK Stalin, also served as deputy chief minister from 2009 to 2011.
6. Udhayanidhi Stalin handled key campaign responsibilities in various elections, including the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, 2021 assembly polls, and the recent Lok Sabha election that was won by the DMK.
7. In September 2023, Udhayanidhi sparked a political controversy with his remarks on Sanatana Dharma at a meeting in Chennai, where he called for eradicating it.
8. Udhayanidhi began his acting career with a cameo role in the Tamil movie ‘Aadhavan’ in 2009 and received the Filmfare’s Best Male Debut Special Award for his lead role in ‘Oru Kal Oru Kannadi’ in 2012.
9. According to IMDb, Udhayanidhi has appeared in approximately 18 movies, with his latest film being ‘Maamannan’ in 2023, directed by Mari Selvaraj and focusing on caste politics.
10. Apart from acting, Udhayanidhi has also worked as a producer and distributor for multiple Tamil movies.