Udhayanidhi Stalin, son of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, has been appointed as the new Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. His journey from the film industry to politics has been remarkable.
Udhayanidhi’s career began in the film industry. In 2009, he made a cameo appearance in ‘Aadavan’, produced by Red Giant Movies. His first lead role came in 2012 with ‘Oru Kal Oru Geem’. However, his focus soon shifted to politics.
In 2019, Udhayanidhi became the secretary of DMK’s youth wing. This marked the beginning of his political career. He submitted an application to contest from the South Chennai constituency in the same year.
The 2021 assembly elections saw Udhayanidhi win from the Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni constituency. During his campaign, he gained attention by criticizing the AIIMS hospital project. After winning, he was appointed as the Minister for Youth Welfare and Sports Development in 2022.
Udhayanidhi’s political journey continued to gain momentum. He was re-elected as DMK Youth Secretary in 2022. In 2023, he sparked controversy with comments at a Tamil Nadu Progressive Writers Association event.
Speculation about Udhayanidhi becoming Deputy Chief Minister grew throughout 2024. On September 28, 2024, the announcement was made official. Udhayanidhi Stalin would take on the role of Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.
This appointment comes with a cabinet reshuffle. New ministers have been added, including Kovi Chezhian, Senthil Balaji, SM Nassar, and Rajendran. Some ministers, like Mano Thangaraj, Senji Mastan, and K. Ramachandran, have been removed. Six ministers have also seen changes in their departments.
Udhayanidhi’s rapid rise in politics has been met with both support and criticism. His appointment as Deputy Chief Minister marks a significant milestone in his career and Tamil Nadu’s political landscape.
-Sanyogita
