A Responsibility to Serve Tamil Nadu: Udhayanidhi Stalin's First Reaction After Elevation To Deputy CM

In his first statement after being appointed as the Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Sports Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin said that the role is not just a position but a responsibility.

Udhayanidhi shared a photo of himself meeting his father, Chief Minister and DMK president MK Stalin, along with other senior party leaders, including the general secretary, treasurer, and ministers.

Expressing gratitude to Stalin for the opportunity to serve as Deputy Chief Minister, he said, "'Deputy Chief Minister' is not a title, but a responsibility... I will work alongside my Cabinet colleagues, guided by the Chief Minister, following the path laid by 'Thanthai' Periyar, Perarignar Anna, and Muthamizharignar Kalaignar, for the betterment of the people of Tamil Nadu."

Udhayanidhi's swearing-in, along with the induction of four new ministers, including V Senthilbalaji, will take place at Raj Bhavan at 3:30 pm. Ministers who have had their portfolios changed will also participate in the ceremony.

The ruling DMK's cadre had long been pushing for the elevation of 46-year-old Udhayanidhi Stalin, with an eye on the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, where the party is determined to retain power.

Udhayanidhi's grandfather, the late M. Karunanidhi, was also a former Chief Minister of the state.

According to a release from Raj Bhavan, Chief Minister MK Stalin "recommended to the Governor of Tamil Nadu (R.N. Ravi) to assign the portfolio of Planning and Development to Udhayanidhi Stalin, in addition to his current roles as Minister for Youth Welfare and Sports Development, and to designate him as Deputy Chief Minister." Udhayanidhi, who has produced and distributed several Tamil films starring leading actors like Kamal Haasan and Vijay, also heads the DMK Youth Wing.

Additionally, he has acted as the male lead in several Tamil films, including the hit "Oru Kal Oru Kannadi."

Equally notable in the reshuffle is the return of Senthil Balaji. Since his release from jail on Thursday, speculation had been rife about his return to the Stalin-led cabinet in a reshuffle that the CM had been hinting at for days.

On Thursday, the Supreme Court granted bail to Balaji, a former minister, in a money laundering case, ending his 471-day incarceration. Balaji had been arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on June 14, 2023, during his tenure as Minister for Electricity and Excise & Prohibition.

Although Governor Ravi dismissed Balaji from his ministerial post in June last year, he quickly reversed the decision. Balaji later resigned as a minister without portfolio in February 2024, a resignation that was accepted by the Governor.