Udhayanidhi Stalin Becomes Tamil Nadu’s New Deputy Chief Minister
Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], September 29: Udhayanidhi Stalin, the new Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, expressed his hope that his previous work justifies his promotion. He paid tribute to former DMK Chief M Karunanidhi at his memorial in Chennai before the swearing-in ceremony at Raj Bhavan.
Several Tamil Nadu ministers, including Sekar Babu, T R B Rajaa, and Anbil Mahesh, along with other MLAs, were present at the memorial. Speaking to reporters, Udhayanidhi Stalin acknowledged the significant responsibility given to him by the Chief Minister and ministers. He stated, “Last night, the Chief Minister gave me an additional charge, announcing me as the Deputy Chief Minister. Four new ministers are taking oath today, and I wish them all the best. I express my gratitude to the Chief Minister. This is not a position but an additional responsibility, my thanks to all who have expressed their wishes.”
Addressing criticism, he said, “Of course, there is criticism. I will try my best to take in all the criticism and work my best for the public. I accept all your criticisms and will respond to them through my work.”
Earlier, Tamil Nadu BJP state president Narayanan Thirupathy criticized the cabinet reshuffle and Udhayanidhi Stalin’s elevation. In a video, Thirupathy claimed that Udhayanidhi lacks the maturity to be a minister, let alone the Deputy Chief Minister. He questioned, “How can he become the Deputy Chief Minister?”
In response, DMK MP Kanimozhi defended the decision, stating that the Chief Minister, who was voted into power, has the right to make such decisions. She said, “It is the Chief Minister who has been voted to make that decision, so I don’t think opposition parties can make that decision or question the CM’s decision about any office regarding the cabinet.”
Udhayanidhi Stalin, previously the Minister for Youth Welfare and Sports Development, will now also handle the Planning and Development portfolio. The cabinet reshuffle also includes the re-induction of Senthil Balaji and the induction of Dr. Govi Chezhiaan, R Rajendran, and SM Nasar into the Council of Ministers.
Ahead of the swearing-in ceremony, DMK cadres celebrated by bursting crackers and distributing sweets to the public in Trichy.
Doubts Revealed
Udhayanidhi Stalin -: Udhayanidhi Stalin is a politician from Tamil Nadu, a state in India. He is the son of M.K. Stalin, the current Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.
Deputy Chief Minister -: The Deputy Chief Minister is the second-highest official in the state government, just below the Chief Minister. They help in running the state and making important decisions.
Tamil Nadu -: Tamil Nadu is a state in the southern part of India. It is known for its rich culture, temples, and history.
DMK -: DMK stands for Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. It is a political party in Tamil Nadu that focuses on the rights and development of the Tamil people.
M Karunanidhi -: M Karunanidhi was a famous politician and the former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. He was a leader of the DMK party and worked for the development of the state.
BJP -: BJP stands for Bharatiya Janata Party. It is one of the major political parties in India and often has different views from the DMK.
Narayanan Thirupathy -: Narayanan Thirupathy is a member of the BJP. He criticized the decision to make Udhayanidhi Stalin the Deputy Chief Minister.
Kanimozhi -: Kanimozhi is a Member of Parliament (MP) from the DMK party. She defended the decision to appoint Udhayanidhi Stalin as the Deputy Chief Minister.
Planning and Development portfolio -: A portfolio in government is a specific area of responsibility. The Planning and Development portfolio involves making plans for the state’s growth and development.
Cabinet reshuffle -: A cabinet reshuffle is when the Chief Minister changes the roles and responsibilities of the ministers in the government. This can include adding new ministers or changing the duties of existing ones.
