Udhayanidhi is now Tamil Nadu deputy CM, Senthil Balaji minister
Udhayanidhi Stalin, son of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, took oath as the state's new deputy chief minister on Sunday. The 46-year-old was already serving as a minister before this elevation. Now, he will oversee the Planning and Development Ministry along with his existing role in Youth Welfare and Sports Development. Senthil Balaji, Dr. Govi Chezhiaan, R Rajendran, and SM Nasar, among others, were also inducted into the Tamil Nadu Cabinet.
New ministers sworn in amid cabinet reshuffle
Balaji, who recently got bail after spending 15 months in jail due to a money laundering case, is back as the minister for electricity, excise, and prohibition. Chezhian has stepped in as the Higher Education minister, Nasar as the Minorities minister, and Rajendran as the Tourism minister. K. Ponmudy took oath as minister for Forests, Siva V. Meyyanathan took oath as minister for Backward Classes Welfare, and N. Kayalvizhi Selvaraj took over the Human Resources Management and Ex-Servicemen Welfare portfolios.
Udhayanidhi's achievements and response to new role
As sports minister, Udhayanidhi earned praise for turning Chennai into a global sports hub. He brought in some major events like the Hero Asian Champions Trophy for hockey, beach volleyball, and the Formula 4 Night Street Racing. Sharing his thoughts on his new role on social media, he said that "deputy chief minister" is not just a title but a responsibility for him.
Opposition criticizes Udhayanidhi's appointment
However, the elevation of Udhayanidhi has drawn ire from opposition parties, with AIADMK spokesperson Kovai Sathyan calling it a sign of the DMK's downfall as they gear up for the 2026 state elections. "Before the 2021 election, he said his son, son-in-law, or anyone from his family won't venture into politics. This is a black day in Tamil Nadu," he said. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) also joined in, slamming the DMK for putting family interests above the public's welfare.
