Udhayanidhi Stalin, son of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, has been named the Deputy Chief Minister in a significant cabinet reshuffle. Currently serving as the state’s sports minister, Udhayanidhi’s promotion follows days of speculation about his elevation. MK Stalin’s recent remarks, stating “there will be no disappointment; there will be change,” hinted at this move.
Tamil Nadu Minister for MSMEs, Tha Mo Anbarasan, had earlier confirmed that Udhayanidhi’s appointment as Deputy CM was imminent, suggesting that the announcement could come within a week or even sooner. Udhayanidhi, when asked about his promotion, deferred to the Chief Minister’s decision.
The state governor has approved the decision, and Udhayanidhi Stalin will be sworn in as Deputy Chief Minister on Sunday at 3:30 pm.
In addition to Udhayanidhi Stalin’s elevation, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has re-inducted V Senthil Balaji into the cabinet alongside Dr. Govi Chezhiaan, R. Rajendran, and SM Nasar.
Senthil Balaji’s re-induction follows his recent bail granted by the Supreme Court in a money laundering case, marking the end of his 471-day incarceration. He was arrested on June 14 of the previous year by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with a cash-for-jobs scam that occurred during his tenure as Transport Minister in the previous AIADMK government.
Balaji characterized the charges against him as a “fake case” stemming from political vendetta, expressing confidence in overcoming the allegations legally. He thanked DMK President and Chief Minister MK Stalin, as well as DMK Youth Wing Secretary Udhayanidhi Stalin, for their support.
