Tamil Nadu CM Stalin’s son Udhayanidhi elevated as state’s Deputy CM; four ministers take oath
File photo.
High-profile DMK leader V Senthil Balaji, who was days ago granted bail by the Supreme Court in a money laundering case, was sworn in as minister by Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi here on Sunday.
Three otherDMKlegislators, R Rajendran (Salem-North),S M Nasar (Avadi), andGovi Chezhiaan (Thiruvidaimarudur)also took the oath of office and secrecy administered by Governor Ravi in a simple ceremony held at the Raj Bhavan.
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK)leader Udhayanidhi Stalin, the son of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, was appointed the deputy chief minister of the Indian state. Udhayanidhi, officially assumedthe post of Deputy CM of the state on Sunday (Sept 29).
After the oath-taking ceremony, Governor Ravi, Chief Minister MK Stalin, Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, and other state ministers were seen together at Raj Bhavan.
A report by the news agency ANI on Saturday (Sept 28) said that Udaynidhi would take on the portfolio of planning and development in addition to his existing responsibilities.
Third instance of CM father-deputy CM son duo in Indianpolitics
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In Indian politics, this is the third instance of a father being a state's chief minister and the son being his deputy. Before Udhayanidhi, MK Stalin served as Tamil Nadu's deputy CM from 2009-2011, while his father, late Karunanidhi, was the state's chief minister.
In the state of Punjab, Sukhbir Singh Badal was the deputy CM, while his father, Parkash Singh Badal, was the chief minister.
A look at the cabinet reshuffle
Chief Minister Stalin recommended inducting V Senthil Balaji, Dr Govi Chezhiaan, R Rajendran, and SM Nasar into the Council of Ministers.
"The Governor has also approved the recommendation of Chief Minister to drop Thiru T. Mano Thangaraj, Minister for Milk and Dairy Development, Thiru Gingee K.S.Masthan, Minister for Minorities Welfare and Non-Resident Tamils Welfare; and Thiru K. Ramachandran, Minister for Tourism, from the Council of Ministers," an official statement said.
Reactions to Udhayanidhi's appointment as deputy CM
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Tamil Maanila Congress (TMC (M)) reacted to Udhayanidhi's appointment as Tamil Nadu deputy CM. In a statement, BJP spokesperson ANS Prasad hit out at the ruling DMK by saying that the party's history had been marked with "years of betrayal to the people and prioritising family interests over public welfare."
BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla told ANI that political parties like the DMK were of the family, for the family, and by the family. "They focus on only family first, and not nation first. They are a Pvt Ltd (private limited) parivarik (family) company," Poonawalla said.
Meanwhile, theTMC (M) said that there were so many other aspirants for the deputy CM's post.
"I congratulate Udhayanidhi Stalin on his swearing-in as deputy CM of Tamil Nadu today. But it is a democratic country, not a king-ruled country. Only in a king-ruled country, does a father become the king and the son becomes the prince of the country... There are so many senior leaders in DMK. There are so many aspirants for the Deputy CM position..., but they were all not inducted in this deputation...,"TMC (M) spokespersonAS Munavar Basha told ANI.
(With inputs from agencies)