Politics in Tamil Nadu got enlivened as Udhayanidhi Stalin, the 41-year-old actor son of DMK chief MK Stalin was on Thursday appointed as the general secretary of the party’s youth wing paving the way for his anointment as the successor to his father. Udhayanidhi, a popular film actor was one of the star campaigners of the party in the recently held Lok Sabha elections from the State which was swept by the DMK-led alliance.
K Anbazhagan, the 96-year-old general secretary of the DMK said in a release on Thursday that he was appointing Udhayanidhi as the secretary of the youth wing under Rules 18 and 19 of the party. MP Saminathan, former Minister and MLA who was holding the position of the youth wing secretary has been relieved from the post, said the release.
There is nothing surprising in the appointment of Udhayanidhi to the present post as he was being groomed by Stalin and his close confidantes as the next party boss. Interestingly, Stalin was the youth wing secretary of the DMK for 35 years and stepped down in 2017 after his appointment as working president of the party. The importance of youth wing leadership could be understood from the fact that Stalin headed the organisation even after him becoming a grandfather. Saminathan, a close aide to Stalin was given the charge of the youth wing to keep the chair warm for Udhayanidhi.
M Karunanidhi, who held the post of DMK president for 49 years had groomed Stalin to take over after his exit from the scene. Udhayanidhi is popular in Tamil Nadu thanks to his career in the films. Even while acting in movies, he was a regular in DMK’s official functions.
“We are all happy that Udhayanidhi has been appointed as the youth wing chief and there is nothing surprising in it. He has endeared himself to the party cadre and general public through his affable manners. He is our future,” said Dorai Murugan, deputy leader of the DMK in Tamil Nadu assembly.
Ravindran Doraisamy, political commentator and a DMK watcher for decades was of the view that the elevation of Udhayanidhi in the party is major event in the political history of Tamil Nadu. “Udhayanidhi is an articulate speaker and has shown his leadership qualities . Whether he would succeed as MP or MLA would be known only after his election . But he is the political leader to watch in Tamil Nadu,” said Doraisamy.