Udhayanidhi Stalin: Rapid rise of a 'reluctant' DMK scion in TN politics

Udayanidhi's elevation to the number two position in the government as deputy Chief Minister seems to have been smoother and faster than that of his father, who was ironically heading the DMK youth wing even well into his sixties.

Also Read: Why Stalin was forced to push Udhayanidhi up the ranks as deputy CM

Notably, Udhayanidhi made his political debut just over five years ago during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, when he toured Tamil Nadu as head of the DMK youth wing.

It is here that Udhayanidhi, who has acted in several Tamil films and owns a prominent production house, Red Giant Movies, made a mark as a political figure. According to political observers in the 2021 TN assembly elections, he cemented his political space by famously flashing the ‘AIIMS brick’ in his campaign speeches. This was to mock the AIADMK-BJP in Tamil Nadu for dragging their feet over setting up AIIMS in Madurai as promised.

His campaigning style attracts young people, and he is seen as a leader rooted in Dravidian ideologies such as social justice. He also takes strong policy positions, such as being anti-NEET and reportedly detesting everything saffron.

Also read: Why Stalin was forced to push Udhayanidhi up the ranks as deputy CM

Sanatan Dharma controversy

But what shot Stalin Junior into the national limelight was his controversial call for the “eradication” of Sanatan Dharma.

At a conference organized by the Tamil Nadu Progressive Writers Artists Association in Chennai on September 2, 2023, he likened Sanatan Dharma to dengue, mosquitoes, malaria, or coronavirus and said it had to be "eradicated." The BJP and Opposition were furious and lashed out at him for calling for what they believed to be a “genocide,” and Udhayanidhi made it to the headlines of every newspaper in the country.

Opposition parties labelled the DMK as an "anti-Hindu" party.

Despite the criticism, Udhayanidhi Stalin stood by his comments, saying that he would face any legal consequences arising from them.

"I haven't said anything wrong...I will not change my statement. I have spoken my ideology. I've not spoken more than what Ambedkar, Periyar or Thirumavalavan had said. I could be an MLA, a Minister or a Youth Wing Secretary and tomorrow I maybe not. But being a human is more important," Udayanidhi declared in November 2023, months after the Sanatan Dharma row. The rank and file of DMK were happy that he stood by the party's ideology.

Many journalists believed that Udhayanidhi used the Sanatan Dharma controversy to climb the DMK hierarchy. However, the Supreme Court slammed Udhayanidhi, observing that he had abused his free speech rights and asking if he was even aware of the consequences of his remarks.

Also read: 'Son rise' in Tamil Nadu | Udhayanidhi made Deputy CM; Senthil Balaji back in cabinet

Electoral debut

In the 2021 Assembly elections, Udhayanidhi made his electoral debut. He was fielded from one of the DMK’s safest seats, Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni in Chennai.

After the DMK’s resounding victory in the elections, it was only several months after Stalin had become CM, Udhayanidhi was inducted as a minister. He was given the portfolios of Welfare and Sports Development. According to reports, Udhayanidhi held out being made a minister for months after Stalin became CM. There was a general belief that he was not politically ambitious and his mother Durga was pushing him to pursue the family legacy.

There is also a view that Stalin cleared the decks first for his son's smooth takeover of the political mantle. Stalin elevated Kanimozhi as DMK’s parliamentary party leader and made her the DMK face in Delhi and cleared the way for Udhayanidhi's elevation in the government.

According to political analysts, Stalin has complete control of DMK and is unlikely to face much dissent within the party over Udhayanidhi’s latest promotion.

The Opposition and the BJP, however, have slammed Udhayanidhi's elevation, saying he is not mature enough to be made deputy CM, let alone a minister. Responding to all the criticisms being levelled at his elevation, Udhayanidhi said that he hopes to respond to the criticism through his work.

Movie production and acting

The 46-year-old is married to Kiruthiga, who runs a magazine publication and is into film and documentary production. Udhayanidhi and his family have been accused of monopolizing the film industry, especially in the 2006-11 DMK regime, as they control the production, distribution, exhibition, and sale of film rights. Not much has changed with Udhayanidhi’s Red Giant Movies, which is considered powerful in the Tamil Nadu film industry even now.

Udhayanidhi entered film production in 2008 with the Vijay-Trisha starrer 'Kuruvi'. Slowly, after a special appearance in a film, he started acting in several movies such as 'Idhu Kathirvelan Kadhal' (2014),' Manithan' (2016), 'Saravanan Irukka Bayamen' (2017), 'Nimir' (2018), and 'Kalaga Thalaivan' (2022). Initially, he played carefree lover boy roles but has moved on to essaying characters fighting for social justice.

In his latest movie, 'Maamanan' (2023), he candidly shows how despite reform movements and the rule of Dravidian parties in Tamil Nadu, caste continues to remain a dominant factor in Tamil society.

Udhayanidhi doesn't shy away from airing his views and like his grandfather and late Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, he is eloquent and can fend off embarrassing questions from the media. What he lacks is the political acumen and subtlety of the veteran politician Karunanidhi when it comes to conveying his views on controversial issues, say political analysts.

Also, Udhayanidhi seems to be playing to the gallery more by airing his views, which probably do not come from some deep-rooted convictions and ideology, they add.