Udhayanidhi Stalin officially assumed the role of Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu in a ceremony held at Raj Bhavan on Sunday. He was sworn in along with senior DMK leader V Senthil Balaji, who recently secured bail from the Supreme Court in a money laundering case, as well as three other DMK legislators. The oath of office was administered by Governor R N Ravi.
The three other legislators taking the oath were R Rajendran (Salem-North), Govi Chezhiaan (Thiruvidaimarudur), and S M Nasar (Avadi), marking a significant cabinet reshuffle within the state government.
Udhayanidhi’s elevation to the post of Deputy Chief Minister had been widely anticipated. Before this appointment, he served as the state’s sports minister and will now also oversee the planning and development portfolio. His promotion comes after recent hints from his father, Chief Minister MK Stalin, who had signalled upcoming changes, stating, “There will be no disappointment, there will be change.”
As the son of Chief Minister MK Stalin and grandson of DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi, Udhayanidhi’s appointment marks the continuation of the family’s political legacy, with him becoming the third generation to hold a top leadership position in the Tamil Nadu government.
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The reshuffle also reinstated Senthil Balaji, who had spent 15 months in jail in connection with a money laundering case but was granted bail by the Supreme Court. His return to the cabinet underscores his importance within the DMK leadership.
Although Udhayanidhi did not take a new oath during the ceremony—having already been a minister—he was seen congratulating the newly sworn-in ministers. Following the event, he took to social media to express his thoughts on his new role, calling it not just a title but a significant responsibility. He also paid tribute to the legacy of his grandfather, M. Karunanidhi, and social activist Periyar by visiting their memorials earlier in the day.