oppn parties Tamil Nadu: M K Stalin Makes His Son Deputy Chief Minister

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Tamil Nadu: M K Stalin Makes His Son Deputy Chief Minister

By Linus Garg
First publised on 2024-09-30 14:40:54

About the Author

Sunil Garodia Linus tackles things head-on. He takes sides in his analysis and it fits excellently with our editorial policy. No 'maybe's' and 'allegedly' for him, only things in black and white.

It was bound to happen. In family-run political parties, it is sooner rather than later that the son (or daughter, or nephew) is officially crowned as the number two. With M K Stalin inducting his son Udhayanidhi Stalin as the deputy chief minister in the Tamil Nadu cabinet, what everyone knew for long (that he was number two in the party and the government) now has the official stamp. This is the first time since the Badals ruled in Punjab that a father-son duo will be at the helm of affairs in a state as chief minister and deputy chief minister respectively.

Udhayanidhi's rise in state politics has been meteoric. He was inducted in the party just four years back and won his first election, from Chepauk-Triplicane constituency in 2021. He was first inducted in the state cabinet in December 2022. Before his elevation, he was looking after youth welfare, sports development, special programme implementation, poverty alleviation and rural indebtedness. As deputy chief minister, in addition to the five department, he will also be looking after the planning and development portfolio.

But Udhayanidhi Stalin was also embroiled in the Sanatan Dharma controversy when he called for eradication of Sanatan Dharma as it existed. While critics, especially Hindutva votaries and the BJP took it as a frontal attack on Hinduism, Stalin said his comments were against the caste system and not the religion. Udhayanidhi is a popular actor and now a popular politician in the state and his elevation is likely to galvanise the cadre and strengthen the party. It will, nevertheless, give fodder to the BJP to take swipes at the DMK for reinforcing dynastic politics. It is now clear that before the state elections in 2026, Udhayanidhi is getting ready for the passing of the baton to him. M K Stalin will be 73 by then and Udhayanidhi 48. The time will be ripe for handing him the ultimate crown. 

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