Chennai: DMK MLA Udhayanidhi Stalin took oath as a Minister of Tamil Nadu at Raj Bhavan in Chennai on Tuesday. He has been allotted Youth Welfare and Sports Development portfolio.
Udhayanidhi took oath in the presence of Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi and Chief Minister MK Stalin.
Addressing reporters, Udhayanidhi said, "When I became youth wing secretary there was criticism, now there will definitely be criticisms. So the only way to address it is to show through my work. For now, I have plans to make Tamil Nadu the sports capital of India."
After his induction, Udhayanidhi is expected to pay his respects to his grandfather and former TN CM Karunanidhi at his memorial near Marina beach at 10 a.m. Later, he is expected to visit the Secretariat to take over as Minister.
Udhayanidhi is also scheduled to pay a visit to EVR Periyar at his memorial and visit Anbazhagan's home in Chennai.
He will also meet his grandmothers to receive their wishes at their homes in Gopalapuram and CIT Colony.
For a long time now some of the party members including Minister Anbil Mahesh, who is an aide of Udhayanidhi Stalin, have been voicing out for the induction of the Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni DMK MLA.
In this backdrop, a press release on Monday said, “The Hon’ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu has recommended to the Hon’ble Governor of Tamil Nadu to induct Udhayanidhi Stalin, Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni Assembly Constituency in the council of Ministers. The Hon’ble Governor has approved the recommendation. The swearing-in-ceremony will be held on Dec 14, 2022 at 9.30 A.M at Durbar Hall, Raj Bhavan, Chennai.”
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Udhayanidhi Stalin attracted the limelight through his campaign across the state during the Parliamentary elections 2019. After DMK’s major win in the polls, the then DMK president MK Stalin announced him as the Youth Wing Secretary of the party. As a youth wing leader, Udhayanidhi’s squad has been at the forefront during several protests against the central government schemes.
In 2021, Udhayanidhi gave a political entry by contesting as an MLA from Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni constituency. In the elections, he bagged the seat by a margin of over 70,000 votes.