Chennai, Apr 2 (PTI) DMK Youth Wing Secretary Udhayanidhi Stalin on Thursday filed his nomination papers for the April 23 Assembly elections from the Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni constituency, seeking a second consecutive term.
The Deputy Chief Minister has declared total family assets worth over Rs 33 crore in his election affidavit.
The 48-year-old DMK scion arrived at the venue following a massive roadshow that saw thousands of party cadres and supporters lining the streets.
Accompanied by senior party leaders and local functionaries, Udhayanidhi submitted his documents to the Returning Officer shortly before noon.
He has declared personal movable assets worth Rs 12.92 crore and immovable assets valued at Rs 7.72 crore. His spouse, Krithika Udhayanidhi, possesses movable assets to the tune of Rs 13.25 crore and holds no immovable property. The affidavit confirms that neither the candidate nor his family members have any declared liabilities, loans, or pending dues to the government or financial institutions.
Among his movable assets, Udhayanidhi listed a Land Rover Defender purchased in 2023 for Rs 1 crore and a Toyota Innova valued at Rs 23 lakh. For the financial year 2024-2025, he reported an annual income of Rs 10,40,620, while his spouse declared an income of Rs 2,92,54,570.
His primary sources of income include his MLA salary, remuneration from the cinema industry, interest on deposits, rent, and dividends.
The document also details 10 pending criminal cases against the DMK leader, with zero past convictions.
These cases, registered across various states including Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Bihar, invoke various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including 153 A, which pertains to the promotion of enmity between groups on the grounds of religion.
According to the affidavit, the charges stem from a speech made at an indoor meeting in Chennai on September 2, 2023, which allegedly hurt religious sentiments and promoted enmity. The charges have not been framed in these cases, and a writ petition challenging the FIRs is currently pending in the Supreme Court.
Speaking to reporters after the filing, the Deputy CM exuded confidence in the ‘Dravidian Model’ of governance.
“We definitely will win this time, women especially are very happy with the transformative work done by our leader, M K Stalin, over the last five years. Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni is my home, and the overwhelming support today shows that our victory will be a foregone conclusion. I will be campaigning in the constituency this evening,” he said.
Asked about the opposition, Udhayanidhi said, “I wish them good luck.” He also reiterated the party’s stand against the “imposition” of central policies, framing the 2026 battle as a fight to “protect the self-respect and rights of Tamil Nadu”.
The Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni seat, a traditional DMK stronghold once represented by the late M Karunanidhi, is set to witness a high-profile contest.
Udhayanidhi’s filing follows Chief Minister Stalin’s nomination from Kolathur earlier this week, as the DMK-led alliance ramps up its campaign against the AIADMK-led NDA and the newly formed TVK led by actor-politician Vijay.
The single-phase poll to the Tamil Nadu Assembly with 234 seats will be held on April 23. PTI JR JR ROH
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