Three Tamil Nadu MLAs took the oath of workplace as ministers within the DMK authorities this afternoon as a part of a cupboard reshuffle in Chief Minister MK Stalin’s group. DMK chief Senthil Balaji, who spent 15 months in jail in a cash laundering case earlier than the Supreme Court docket granted him bail, was reinstated as minister and took the oath immediately. The three different MLAs who took oath as ministers immediately are Govi Chezhian, SM Nasar and KS Masthan.
This cupboard rejig can also be important as a result of it marks the elevation of MK Stalin’s son Udhayanidhi Stalin as Deputy Chief Minister. He’s the third technology chief in his household to get a key position within the Tamil Nadu authorities after his grandfather and DMK veteran late M Karunanidhi and his father MK Stalin. The 46-year-old chief didn’t take oath at immediately’s occasion as a result of he was a minister earlier than his elevation to the Quantity 2 put up within the state authorities. He was seen congratulating the 4 ministers after the oath ceremony at Raj Bhavan.
Earlier immediately, Udhayanidhi Stalin stated in a social media put up that ‘Deputy Chief Minister’ shouldn’t be a place however a accountability for him. He additionally visited the memorials of his grandfather M Karunanidhi and social activist Periyar.
Udhayanidhi Stalin’s elevation to the highest put up has drawn sharp criticism from AIADMK and the BJP.
AIADMK spokesperson Kovai Sathyan referred to junior Stalin as “prince” and stated his elevation marks the tip of DMK earlier than the 2026 state polls. “This exposes what a giant liar Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin is. Earlier than the 2021 election, he stated his son, son-in-law, or anybody from his household will not enterprise into politics. This alerts what we’ve got been saying. That is dynast rule within the identify of democracy. DMK means just one household. This can be a black day in Tamil Nadu.”
The BJP, too, has focused the DMK and stated the occasion’s historical past has been marked with “years of betrayal of the folks and prioritising household pursuits over public welfare”. “Regardless of being a part of the alliance, DMK has denied its companions a share in energy and as a substitute appointed Udhayanidhi Stalin as Deputy Chief Minister,” BJP spokesperson ANS Prasad stated.