TN Deputy Chief Minister Role For Udhayanidhi Stalin On The Horizon

The ruling DMK government in Tamil Nadu is likely to promote Sports Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin to Deputy Chief Minister, according to India Today reports. This move mirrors that of his father, MK Stalin, who became Deputy CM after the 2009 Lok Sabha elections.

Udhayanidhi, the DMK's youth wing leader and MLA from Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni constituency, was sworn in as a minister in the DMK cabinet in December 2022. According to sources, Udhayanidhi was twice considered for the Deputy CM role this year, but controversies derailed the plans.

In January, the plan was dropped due to the Sanatana Dharma controversy and later due to the Kallakurichi hooch tragedy.

The Sanatana Dharma controversy erupted in January when Udhayanidhi likened Sanatana Dharma to "malaria" and "dengue" while calling for its eradication. He argued that Sanatana Dharma is based on the caste system and discrimination, sparking widespread criticism, several complaints, and the Supreme Court's intervention.

The DMK government also faced criticism due to the Kallakurichi hooch tragedy in June, where at least 65 people died after consuming spurious liquor in Kallakurichi district.