Stalin's son Udhayanidhi elevated as TN deputy CM, Balaji makes a comeback

CABINET RESHUFFLE | Amid a growing chorus in the party for his elevation, Tamil Nadu Sports minister and son of Chief Minister M K Stalin, Udhayanidhi, was elevated as the deputy CM on Saturday with additional responsibility, in a Cabinet reshuffle that saw the return of V Senthil Balaji to the council of ministers two days after securing bail in a money laundering case.

- OUR CORRESPONDENT

The ruling DMK's rank and file had been seeking 46-year-old Udhayanidhi's promotion with an eye on the 2026 Assembly polls in the state, which the party is keen to win and retain power in the state.

Saturday marked another 'sonrise' moment in the Dravidian party as many enthusiastic DMK leaders and workers have already been billing Udhayanidhi as a possible CM in the future, succeeding his father. Udhayanidhi's grandfather, the late M Karunanidhi is a former chief minister of the state.

• Saturday marked another 'sonrise' moment in the Dravidian party as many enthusiastic DMK leaders and workers have already been billing Udhayanidhi as a possible CM in the future, succeeding his father

• Udhayanidhi, who has produced and distributed a number of Tamil films featuring top stars including Kamal Haasan and Vijay, is also the DMK's Youth Wing chief