Amidst growing speculation about his potential elevation to the position of Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Udhayanidhi Stalin, the Minister of Youth Welfare and Sports Development, played down the reports on Saturday. He stated that all ministers within the Tamil Nadu government are effectively deputy chief ministers, dismissing the notion of a singular appointment.
Udhayanidhi, who is also the secretary of the DMK Youth Wing, made these remarks during the 45th foundation day celebration of the youth wing in Chennai. He addressed the press earlier on the matter, reiterating that the decision regarding his potential promotion ultimately lies with Chief Minister MK Stalin.
When questioned by reporters, Udhayanidhi emphasized that he is fully committed to his current role as a minister and that the position of secretary of the party’s youth wing holds a special place in his heart. He stated, “Whatever post, according to me, the youth wing secretary post is my favourite.”
He also urged DMK youth wing members to engage actively on social media, recommending they dedicate at least ten minutes in the morning and evening to online interactions. Furthermore, Udhayanidhi set an ambitious target for the youth wing, encouraging them to include a young member from every household in their ranks.
Udhayanidhi, the MLA from the Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni assembly constituency, expressed confidence in the DMK-led government’s re-election in the next assembly election, scheduled for 2026. He declared, “The 2026 election is our target…we should work and achieve a victory like in the previous election. Our leader, CM MK Stalin, will take charge as CM of Tamil Nadu again. It is the DMK alliance that will win the assembly election in 2026.”
Speculations regarding Udhayanidhi’s promotion were fueled earlier this week by RS Bharathi, DMK’s organizing secretary. Bharathi stated, “The chief minister has to decide on elevating his son as his deputy. This is our aspiration too. But it is ultimately the CM who, as the party president, should decide.” He added that such a promotion would be a significant advantage for the party in the upcoming 2026 Tamil Nadu assembly election.
Udhayanidhi’s comments, while not definitively dismissing the possibility of a promotion, seem to indicate that he is not actively pursuing the position and that the final decision rests solely with Chief Minister MK Stalin.
