Udhayanidhi Stalin

Udhayanidhi Stalin, 48, is the Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu and represents the Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni constituency as a DMK MLA. Born on November 27, 1977, he is the son of current Chief Minister M.K. Stalin and grandson of legendary former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi. Before entering politics, he had a successful career in Tamil cinema as an actor, producer, and distributor, making his acting debut in 2012 with 'Oru Kal Oru Kannadi' and producing blockbusters like 'Kuruvi' and '7aum Arivu'. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Loyola College, Chennai, and is married to Kiruthiga Udhayanidhi, a film writer and director, with whom he has two children. His political rise has been meteoric but controversial. Entering politics in 2019 as Secretary of the DMK Youth Wing, he won his first election in 2021 with a margin of over 70,000 votes and was elevated to Deputy Chief Minister in 2024, becoming the third and youngest person to hold this position. However, his tenure has been marked by significant legal challenges. He faces 9 criminal cases with serious charges including promoting religious enmity (§153A), deliberately outraging religious feelings (§295A), public mischief (§505), and criminal conspiracy (§120B). These cases largely stem from his controversial remarks on Sanatan Dharma that sparked nationwide debate and criticism from opposition parties. Financially, Udhayanidhi has declared assets worth Rs. 33.92 crores with minimal liabilities of Rs. 1.55 lakhs. The Madras High Court ordered an Income Tax probe into his asset declarations ahead of elections due to alleged inconsistencies and unexplained variations between his 2021 and current affidavits. Despite dismissing the investigation as 'good publicity', the discrepancies raise questions about the completeness of his financial disclosures, particularly given his extensive business operations in the film industry. Voters should know that while Udhayanidhi has leveraged his family's political legacy and film industry success to build a strong base and implement welfare programs, his rapid ascent has been accompanied by serious legal challenges and financial scrutiny. His active social media presence and modern political approach appeal to younger voters, but the pending criminal cases related to religious harmony and the ongoing Income Tax investigation are significant concerns that warrant careful consideration, especially given his position as the state's second-in-command.