Tamil Nadu: Udhayanidhi Stalin To Be Made Deputy CM; Announcement Today

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin is expected to name his deputy today, putting an end to weeks of speculation.

According to reports, his elevation is likely to be announced on Wednesday. There has been growing pressure within the DMK for Stalin to appoint his son, Udhayanidhi Stalin, as Deputy Chief Minister.

Udhayanidhi, currently serving as the Minister for Youth Welfare and Sports Development, is also responsible for overseeing special programme implementation, including key projects like the Chennai Metro Rail Phase-2.

Udhayanidhi, who was made a minister in December 2022 after winning from the Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni Assembly constituency, played a significant role in the 2021 Assembly election that ended a decade-long AIADMK rule. His elevation as Deputy Chief Minister has been seen as a strategic move by party members ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections.

Earlier, senior DMK leader and Organising Secretary R S Bharathi expressed the desire among party leaders and cadres to see Udhayanidhi elevated. Bharathi said that the final decision rests with Chief Minister Stalin, but acknowledged that Udhayanidhi's promotion would be a "huge advantage" for the party in the upcoming elections.

If Udhayanidhi is appointed as Deputy CM, he would follow in the footsteps of his father, who held the same position from 2009 to 2011 when the late DMK leader M Karunanidhi was Chief Minister.

However, MK Stalin denied the rumours of his son's elevation in August. He said that the "time was not ripe" for his elevation. "Though demand is getting stronger [within the party to elevate Udhayanidhi], the time is not ripe," he added.

Meanwhile, Stalin on Tuesday urged the party workers to work hard to ensure a victory for the DMK in the 2026 assembly polls.

There is a buzz that the Tamil Nadu CM might meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, this week in Delhi.