DMK’s youth wing leader and MLA from Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni constituency, Udhayanidhi, was sworn-in as a minister of the DMK cabinet in December 2022….reports Asian Lite News
The ruling DMK government in Tamil Nadu is likely to elevate Sports Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin to Deputy Chief Minister, sources told India Today. This move is similar to that of his father, MK Stalin, who became Deputy CM after the 2009 Lok Sabha elections.
DMK’s youth wing leader and MLA from Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni constituency, Udhayanidhi, was sworn-in as a minister of the DMK cabinet in December 2022.
According to the sources, Udhayanidhi was supposed to be made Deputy CM twice this year. But, hit by controversies, DMK’s plans didn’t work out.
In January this year, the plan to make him Deputy CM was dropped due to the Sanatana Dharma controversy and later due to the Kallakurichi hooch tragedy.
The Sanantana Dharma controversy erupted in the month of January after Udhayanidhi likened Sanatana Dharma with “malaria” and “dengue” while calling for its eradication. The DMK minister argued that Sanatana Dharma is based on the caste system and discrimination.
His statement sparked widespread criticism, leading to several complaints and the Supreme Court’s intervention.
Meanwhile, the DMK government has once again received flak due to the Kallakurichi hooch tragedy, that occurred in the month of June. At least 65 people died after drinking spurious liquor in Kallakurichi district.
However, highly-placed sources said both Chief Minister MK Stalin and Udhayanidhi Stalin are yet to make a final decision on this. Following DMK’s victory in the Vikravandi by-election last week, there has been a strong buzz within DMK circles about the possible elevation of Udhayanidhi ahead of the chief minister’s proposed visit to the US in the third week of August.
A state-level party leader, close to the top leadership, said the party functionaries’ expectation of Udhayanidhi being elevated to the deputy CM post is not new, as many MLAs have expressed the same sentiment during assembly sessions. Emphasising that the final decision rests with the leadership, he said, “To the best of my knowledge, neither Udhayanidhi nor the leadership has arrived at any decision as of Thursday evening.”
Another senior leader shared the CM invited around 10 ministers to his home on Tuesday to discuss strategies for the 2026 assembly election and ways to strengthen the party. News of this meeting also fuelled the speculation that Udhayanidhi elevation is likely soon.
DMK sources said the party leadership had almost made the decision to elevate Udhayanidhi last November. However, the plan was put in storage after a survey by a political strategy team close to the DMK found the public opinion to be unfavourable.
Pointing out that Udhayanidhi was made a youth wing’s state secretary as a reward and honour for his contribution to the party’s success in the 2019 parliament election, party sources said there was expectation that he would be elevated after the party’s landslide victory in the 2024 parliament election.
With the party following it up with a thumping victory in Vikravandi bypoll as well, DMK leaders and cadre are eagerly monitoring the developments with hope.
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