Opinion: The rise of Udhayanidhi as 2026 promises to be a battle of young political guns

Udayanidhi's meteoric political rise has been like a fast-paced T20 game played at Chepauk, which also happens to be his constituency. He became a legislator for the first time in 2021 after a decade-long stint in Kollywood as producer and actor and, within 19 months, was inducted into the Cabinet as sports minister.

In Short

• Udayanidhi Stalin named Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu
• MK Stalin's strategic move for succession
• Generational shift in Tamil Nadu politics

Like father, like son. On May 29, 2009, MK Stalin was elevated as Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu by his father, the late M Karunanidhi. On September 29, 2024, Stalin anointed his son, Udayanidhi Stalin as his deputy in the government, putting the official stamp on the succession plan within the DMK.

But that is where the similarity ends. By the time Stalin became Deputy Chief Minister, he was already a four-time MLA, had been Mayor of Chennai and in active politics for over three decades. In contrast, Udayanidhi's meteoric political rise has been like a fast-paced T20 game played at Chepauk, which also happens to be his constituency. He became a legislator for the first time in 2021 after a decade-long stint in Kollywood as producer and actor and, within 19 months, was inducted into the Cabinet as sports minister.

In fact, this is Udayanidhi's fourth promotion in the DMK in the last five years. In 2019, he was appointed the party's youth wing secretary, won the election to become MLA in 2021, was inducted into the cabinet in 2022 and is now elevated as Deputy Chief Minister.

Does this title change the internal dynamics within the ruling DMK or the political theatre of Tamil Nadu? On the face of it, it does not. In fact, ever since he stepped into the Cabinet, there has been a clamour at regular intervals to anoint him as the official number 2.

Unofficially, Udayanidhi was the uncrowned Chief Minister-in-waiting as he often inaugurated programmes on his father's behalf and was much sought-after by other ministers to unveil schemes relating to their departments.

It is also pertinent to note that in many states, a deputy chief minister is appointed to balance power and caste equations between two equally strong contenders for the top job. Like in Karnataka and Telangana. Or it is to ensure space to an alliance partner, like in Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra. Or it is to showcase the Chief Minister as a champion of social justice like former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy did by appointing five Deputy Chief Ministers from different social groups. In the party of the rising sun, it is clear the appointment has nothing to do with social justice or improving governance in Tamil Nadu. In fact, this is not even the appointment of a Deputy Chief Minister.

Stalin has appointed - or you could say, anointed - his political successor. Udayanidhi Stalin's ascent is more like that of Sukhbir Singh Badal who was deputy to his father, the late Parkash Singh Badal in Punjab and his political successor in the Akali Dal.

But the leg up to the 46-year-old is also an acknowledgement of the generational shift in Tamil Nadu politics. It comes at a time when the BJP in Tamil Nadu is headed by another leader in his 40s, K Annamalai and superstar Vijay, who turned 50 this June, will be making his electoral debut in 2026.

Changing the designation of Udayanidhi Stalin raises his stature and, backed by the DMK political machine, makes him a formidable gen-next politician. It is also an attempt to ensure that the youth vote does not gravitate significantly towards other players.

Will the DMK rank and file accept the partial passing of the baton? Yes, it will, particularly since its unchallenged leader Stalin is doing it himself while he is in a position of power. Two, he is doing it after a spectacular showing in the Lok Sabha elections where the DMK-led alliance swept the polls, winning all seats. Three, with the sons of senior DMK leaders like TR Baalu and Durai Murugan accommodated in positions of power in the state government and the Centre, no one would be in a position to raise a banner of revolt. Karunanidhi had to delay the inevitable as he was caught in the wrangling for the top job between Stalin and elder brother MK Alagiri.

In Udayanidhi's case, there is no one in the family to eclipse the rising son, with Kanimozhi - Stalin's step sister - appointed leader of the DMK Parliamentary party.

The day the new DMK MPs were sworn in as lawmakers, they made it clear that the next promotion for Udayanidhi was round the corner.

A number of MPs hailed Udayanidhi after taking oath in the Lok Sabha. Former Union Telecom minister Dayanidhi Maran concluded his oath by saying, “Long live Tamil, Long live Kalaignar, Long live Periyar, Long live Anna, Long live Muthuvel Karunanidhi Stalin, Long live Udayanidhi.” Many MPs hailed Udayanidhi as the “future” of the DMK.

Stalin's move is also dictated by what he saw happening with the AIADMK after Jayalalithaa's demise. Even though Edappadi Palaniswami managed to survive his term in office, the innings were marred by frequent fall-outs and skirmishes with three leaders who controlled the AIADMK under Jayalalithaa - VK Sasikala, O Panneerselvam and TTV Dhinakaran - ending in the ouster of the trio from the party.

Stalin saw political merit in anointing his successor while he could mentor and guide him through the hurly-burly of Tamil Nadu politics.

In fact, there was speculation that Udayanidhi would be made Deputy Chief Minister before the Lok Sabha elections, but Stalin decided not to hand over dynastic rule and nepotism as an issue to his political rivals on a platter. In both the 2021 Assembly and 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Udayanidhi established himself as an aggressive campaigner.

His election speeches are not a monologue, but much like his films, where he usually played the role of a boy next door, he has an interactive and conversational style of campaign. It is clear that the 2026 assembly election campaign will see Udayanidhi in the role of the star campaigner.

Thus, the run-up to 2026 has become like 2016. In the Assembly elections that year, the then DMK political strategist Sunil Kanugolu convinced Stalin to undergo a sartorial makeover and shift from the traditional veshti to t-shirt and trousers to appeal to the youth vote.

Eight years later, the Chief Minister has cast Brand Stalin in a youthful avatar.

(Views expressed in this opinion piece are those of the author)