Chennai: Udayanidhi Stalin, son of Chief Minister MK Stalin and an MLA, is likely to join the DMK government soon.
The birthday celebration of the younger scion of Tamil Nadu’s first family on Sunday was an indication of the influence he wields in the government and the party.
Tamil Nadu School Education Minister and DMK leader Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi, who is considered a close family friend of Udayanidhi, has openly urged the latter to join his father’s government.
DMK leaders, from senior leader S. Duraimurugan, who is the Public Works Minister, to other leaders wished the young leader on his birthday and showered him with accolades.
Stalin’s son, who was a film actor, is now engaged in film production and enjoys deep support in many parts of the country. He is also the youth leader of the party and has placed leaders close to him in all the key positions of the youth group.
A senior DMK leader, speaking on condition of anonymity, told IANS, “Udayanidhi’s birthday celebration was like Kalaignar Karunanidhi’s birthday celebration and if this is any indication, it is clear that he will join Stalin’s cabinet.”
Sources in the DMK told IANS that Udayanidhi is considered the de facto power center in the party and the Tamil Nadu government and has a major say in the postings of senior officials.
With Stalin giving an ultimatum to party cadres and grassroots leaders to win all 40 seats from Tamil Nadu and Puducherry in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Udayanidhi’s birthday is seen as a curtain-raiser to the election preparations.
The chief minister then asked lower-level leaders to focus on seats where the AIADMK has an upper hand in the assembly elections.
The DMK youth wing organized the birthday celebration by organizing blood donation camps, boat races, BP identification camps and other celebrations. These were considered big moves to connect with the locals before the preparations for the elections. The party seems to have found an event to connect with the crowd in Udayanidhi’s birthday.
According to the DMK state leader, the party has conducted around 1,000 programs in the state as part of the young leader’s birthday celebrations.