I made Udhayanidhi Stalin my deputy to assist people, not me: Tamil Nadu CM M K Stalin

CHENNAI: As Udhayanidhi Stalin began day one as deputy chief minister on Sunday by visiting the memorials of Dravidian icons and calling on party seniors, his father and chief minister M K Stalin said the promotion was for the DMK scion to work harder for the people of Tamil Nadu.

“He has been made deputy CM not to assist me, but to assist the people,” Stalin said in a statement. For his part Udhayanidhi said he saw the elevation as an added responsibility rather than an exalted position.

There were congratulatory messages pouring in from across the country, from political leaders, film stars and business tycoons, including SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, industrialist Karan Adani and Rajinikanth. Even as DMK seniors and allies rallied behind him, BJP and AIADMK sharpened their attack on the DMK and Udhayanidhi on the plank of dynastic politics. Udhayanidhi said he would respond to such criticism through his performance.

Those backing Udhayanidhi listed out traits that ranged from his ‘ideological stridence’ to his ‘proactive functioning’ as DMK youth wing secretary and minister that qualified him for the deputy cm post.

Stalin himself appreciated Udhayanidhi for his performance so far as a minister and DMK youth wing leader, but wanted him to work harder for the people of Tamil Nadu.

Stalin said Udhayanidhi had drawn the attention of the whole world as a sports minister and under him, the sports sector made rapid strides in Tamil Nadu.

CM: Udhaya must work more nowHe has been fulfilling the objective of the special programme implementation department too. As the party’s youth wing secretary, he has been drawing youth towards DMK, Stalin said.“He has been given the additional responsibility of deputy CM for him to work harder for the growth of the party and TN. He must work more than in the past,’’ Stalin said. Stalin wanted him to understand and fulfil the expectations of people from various walks of life. Other ministers too heaped praise on Udhayanidhi.Udhayanidhi’s elevation is his formal anointment as Stalin’s political successor. It has set the tone for a leadership transition in DMK, say political observers. Unlike Stalin who had to face challenges within the family and the party, Udhayanidhi’s ascension has been smooth with the party rank and file backing the elevation. DMK allies too were vocally supportive.Now, Udhayanidhi is expected to play a larger role during the 2026 assembly elections and after that.