Will answer 'family politics' taunts through my work, says Udhayanidhi Stalin

On assuming the office of the minister for youth welfare and sports development, the ruling DMK’s youth wing secretary and MLA, Udhayanidhi Stalin, on Wednesday (December 14) asserted that he would answer the criticism of family politics against him through his work.

On assuming office, Udhayanidhi sanctioned three initiatives by signing on official documents. Hike in pension to indigent sportspersons to ₹6,000 per month from ₹3,000, sanction of pension to more persons and conducting Chief Minister’s Trophy tournaments at a cost of ₹47 crore (2022-23) were among the schemes.

Further, responding to accusations of family politics, he said that it was nothing new to him and it was also unavoidable. He said he would face it and answer the jibes aimed at him through sheer work. “Tell me if there are any grievances,” he told reporters after taking oath of office.

The criticism was just the same when he was appointed the party’s youth wing chief in 2019 and then, when picked as a party candidate to contest the 2021 Assembly election, Udhayanidhi said in a statement.

“I will try to win the hearts of the people through my work,” he said, referring to his new responsibility as youth welfare minister. “I will try to do my best by taking the new responsibility as a challenge,” he added. He listed the party work he has rendered, services to the people as a legislator and during the coronavirus pandemic.

Also read: Udhayanidhi on quitting acting, working with Kamal, and dad Stalin’s film choices

In the presence of Tamil Nadu chief minister M K Stalin and his cabinet colleagues, Udhayanidhi was administered the oath of office and secrecy by governor R N Ravi in a simple swearing-in ceremony held at the Raj Bhavan. In essence, it was a show of solidarity by the DMK brass and rank and file against the backdrop of the Opposition AIADMK’s tirade on dynasty politics.

Reshuffling of portfolios

Stalin took the opportunity to reshuffle portfolios held by 10 ministers and allocated the Special Programme Implementation (SPI) portfolio, held by him, to Udhayanidhi.

Flanked by senior ministers Duraimurugan and K N Nehru, Udhayanidhi formally assumed office at the secretariat on the premises of Fort St George in Chennai. All other ministers including Anbil Mahesh, E V Velu and V Senthil Balaji and top officials were present.

While DMK’s allies including Congress took part, the main opposition AIADMK, which has been accusing the ruling party of family politics, boycotted the function. Ravi greeted Udhayanidhi after administering him the oath.

Also watch: Udhayanidhi Stalin is now TN Youth Welfare Minister; Opposition slams quick elevation

Top stars Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan congratulated him. Stalin’s cousin and former Union minister M K Alagiri’s son, Dhaya Alagiri was among the members of the extended family who greeted him in person. Haasan, addressing Udhayanidhi as ‘Thambi’ (younger brother), said he believed that three generations of experience would help him.

“There are expectations and your success lies in fulfilling them,” the renowned actor said. Rajinikanth said he extended his wholehearted wishes to dear Thambi Udhayanidhi. Udhayanidhi has been allocated youth welfare, sports development, SPI Department and poverty alleviation programme.

Senior minister, I Periyasamy, who was reportedly not happy with his department of cooperatives (Cooperation Department), was re-designated as minister for rural development, which covers panchayats as well. Siva V Meyyanathan (environment and climate change) previously held the youth welfare and sport development portfolio.

Rural development minister K R Periyakaruppan has been re-designated as minister for cooperation and forests minister, while K Ramachandran is now minister for tourism. Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments minister P K Sekar Babu will also handle Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA). M Mathiventhan, who held the tourism department portfolio, is also the new forests minister.

Also watch: Udhayanidhi Stalin appointed DMK’s youth wing secy 

Speaking to reporters, Udhayanidhi said that he would not act in films henceforth and Mari Selvaraj’s directorial Maamannan (meaning the emperor, the Tamil flick is expected to be released in 2023) shall be his last film. He said he had to turn down an offer from actor-producer Kamal Haasan to act in a film.

Son of TN CM Stalin and MLA representing Chepauk-Tiruvallikeni constituency in Chennai, Udhayanidhi is the 35th minister. In total, there are 35 ministers including the CM. There are 234 MLAs in the Assembly.

Answering a question, Udhayanidhi said his goal is to work towards making Tamil Nadu the nation’s sports capital and ensure stadiums are built across the state as assured in the party’s manifesto for the 2021 Assembly elections.

At the secretariat, the Youth Welfare Minister also gave ₹4 lakh incentive, by way of a cheque, to junior-level world shooting champion, Coimbatore-based Niveditha. Clad in his trademark folded-up, full-sleeve white shirt, with a popular logo of DMK’s youth wing embossed on it, Udhayanidhi took the oath in Tamil, in a style that was characteristic of his father and party chief Stalin. The youth wing logo sports a young man, on the move, holding atop the DMK’s red and black flag.

On his Twitter handle, Udhayanidhi said he would always work with a consciousness that it was a responsibility given to him and not a post. He took the blessings of his father and mother, Stalin and Durga Stalin.

The swearing-in ceremony was over in 10 minutes. The 45-year old leader, hailed by party workers as Chinnavar (young leader), was congratulated by state Ministers and senior party leaders on his assumption of office.