Chennai, May 4 (PTI) DMK scion Udhayanidhi Stalin announced his arrival in the 2021 Assembly polls with a brick.
It was not a mere brick but had sarcasm written all over. The DMK Youth Wing Leader used the imagery to claim the Madurai AIIMS remained a non-starter.
That year, the DMK unseated rival AIADMK, whose allies included the BJP, from the seat of power after a 10 year-stint in office and the .
With his father and DMK president M K Stalin suffering a shock defeat, the young leader now stands a good chance to become the Leader of Opposition.
An actor-turned politician, Udhayanidhi Stalin’s elevation was quick to become deputy chief minister, amid criticism from opposition of it being an extension of the DMK’s “dynasty politics”.
Emerging as the “future generation leader”, as claimed by the DMK cadres including senior party functionaries, Udhayanidhi led the DMK’s Youth Wing before being accommdated in father Stalin-led cabinet as Sports Minister, and ultimately being made the deputy CM.
Born on November 27, 1977, the 49-year-old grandson of late DMK chief M Karunanidhi won the Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni constituency in 2021 elections with a huge margin of more than 70,000 votes. Karunanidhi had represented the seat in 1996, 2001 and 2006.
Udhayanidhi shot to limelight with his single brick act in 2021 indicating the delay by the union government in establishing the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Madurai. He alleged only a single brick had been placed at the identified site since Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone in 2019 for the construction of AIIMS.
Known for his calm demeanour, Udhayanidhi courted controversy in 2023 over his “eradicate Sanatana Dharma,” comments, earning the ire of the BJP and pro-Hindu outfits.
Even the Supreme Court reacted sharply against Udhayanidhi for “abusing his right to freedom of expression”, saying that he was not a “layman” and knew the consequences of his words. Udhayanidhi asserted that he will not apologize for his statement and is ready to face any legal action.
Udhayanidhi’s “fast” elevation in the DMK has faced several criticisms from opposition parties including AIADMK, BJP and PMK, who have termed it as a “dynastic rule”.
Earlier, as a film producer he was instrumental in floating Red Giant Movies in 2008, producing Tamil Movie hits like “Kuruvi” (2008), starring actor Vijay, “Aadhavan” (2009), and “Yeazham Arrivu” in 2011.
As an actor, he made his debut with the comedy Tamil film “Oru Kal Oru Kannadi” in 2012. He also acted in movies including “Idhu Kathirvelan Kadhal”, “Manithan”, “Psycho”.
He is being touted as a future party chief, with many in the DMK openly batting for his elevation.
Udhayanidhi has been actively taking forward DMK’s ideological concepts and was in the forefront of its anti-NEET campaign. PTI SNR SA
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