'Sonrise' in Tamil Nadu: MK Stalin appoints Udayanidhi deputy CM

CHENNAI: In the first such instance in India since Sukhbir Singh Badal served as Punjab's deputy chief minister while his father, Parkash Singh Badal was CM, Tamil Nadu will now have a father-son duo as CM and deputy CM. DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi's grandson and CM MK Stalin's son Udhayanidhi Stalin was picked Saturday as Tamil Nadu's deputy CM amid mounting pressure from senior party members and ministerial colleagues to entrust the 46-year-old with a larger role in the state.

Governor R N Ravi approved CM Stalin's recommendations for Udhayanidhi's promotion and the induction of V Senthil Balaji, Govi Chezhiaan, R Rajendran, and SM Nasar into the council of ministers. Balaji's return to the cabinet comes just two days after he was released on bail following 471 days in prison for a money laundering case. Their swearing-in is scheduled for Sunday at 3.30pm at Raj Bhavan.

Actor-politician Udhayanidhi has risen swiftly through the ranks, barely four years into his political career, and just three years after winning his first assembly election. The first-time MLA representing Chepauk-Triplicane constituency was appointed as a minister in Dec 2022. With his new role as deputy CM, he will also take on the planning and development portfolio, in addition to his existing responsibilities for youth welfare, sports development, special programme implementation, poverty alleviation, and rural indebtedness.

Among the new appointees is Nasar, who was dropped from the ministry in May 2022 following complaints from party members. Chezhiaan, a three-time MLA from Thiruvidaimarudur and the govt chief whip, and Rajendran, the lone DMK MLA from Salem district, will also join the cabinet. The cabinet reshuffle also saw the removal of three ministers: T Mano Thangaraj, Ginjee KS Masthan, and K Ramachandran.

The announcement followed the party's diamond jubilee celebrations in Kancheepuram. While DMK allies Congress, VCK, and CPI welcomed Udhayanidhi’s elevation, the decision attracted criticism from the opposition — especially Senthil Balaji’s return, given his recent legal troubles.