Introduction: How DMK Celebrated Udhayanidhi’s First Birthday as Deputy CM
Chennai: Clad in a white long-sleeve shirt, a yellow shawl on one shoulder, and holding a vintage microphone—an ensemble reminiscent of Tamil Nadu’s longest-serving chief minister, the late K. Karunanidhi—images of his grandson Udhayanidhi’s Stalin adorned the streets of Chennai on Wednesday.
The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) celebrated Udhayanidhi’s 47th birthday on November 27, his first since being elevated to the position of the state’s deputy chief minister. The celebrations included posters, greetings from senior ministers and young party cadres, and songs praising his work.
Grand Celebrations and Social Welfare Activities
“DMK has always celebrated its leaders’ birthdays. But this year, we made extra efforts as it is Udhayanidhi’s first birthday after being elevated as the deputy CM,” said a source at the DMK Youth Wing headquarters.
The DMK cadres used the occasion to serve society, conducting various welfare programs such as blood donation camps and food distribution across the state in celebration of Udhayanidhi’s birthday.
Udhayanidhi, who has been DMK’s youth wing secretary since 2019, also holds the youth welfare and sports development portfolio in the Tamil Nadu cabinet. He was appointed deputy chief minister in September, making him the youngest person in the state to hold the position. He represents the Chepauk–Thiruvallikeni assembly constituency in Chennai.
Celebratory Activities and Outreach
On Wednesday, Udhayanidhi shared pictures of himself being greeted by his father, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, and his mother, Durga Stalin, on social media platform X.
He spent the day visiting the memorials of former chief ministers Karunanidhi and C.N. Annadurai, and social reformer Periyar in Chennai. He also met with Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department (HR&CE) minister P.K. Sekarbabu, Chennai Central MP Dayanidhi Maran, and Chennai Mayor Priya Rajan.
Udhayanidhi distributed goods and cash to the cleaning staff at the Karunanidhi memorial, extended financial assistance to 250 college-going students and 100 transpersons, supported 50 women’s self-help groups, and provided sports equipment for 375 sportspersons.
The deputy CM also met hundreds of DMK cadres who had traveled from across the state. The entire celebration was live-streamed by the DMK Youth Wing on YouTube, in collaboration with the IT wing and strategist firm Populus Empowerment Network (PEN) for social media outreach using the hashtag #HBDDyCMUdhay.
Public Reception and Future Prospects
DMK leader K.E. Prakash, who attended the celebration, mentioned that at least 50,000 young cadres visited Udhayanidhi’s residence ‘Kurinji’ in Chennai for his birthday. “The decision to evoke Kalaignar (Karunanidhi) in his speech and mannerisms is liked by everyone. It is to inspire people,” Prakash said.
At the end of the day-long event, Udhayanidhi was also greeted in person by Thol Thirumavalan, chief of DMK ally Vidhuthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK).
Tamil Nadu’s Hope
“Yaar enna sonna enna, Vantharu Udhay anna (Whatever people may say, brother Udhay has come),” say the lyrics of one of the three songs released by DMK on the eve of Udhayanidhi’s birthday. The song references his work over the past few years, including his criticism of the Centre over the delay in constructing AIIMS in Madurai and his supervision of flood mitigation work and the Formula 4 racing event held in August 2024 in Chennai.
The Tuesday edition of DMK mouthpiece Murasoli featured at least 20 pages celebrating his birthday and projecting him as “Tamil Nadu’s hope,” with contributions from DMK units across the state and capital Chennai. It also included two poems about Udhayanidhi, one written by former higher education minister P. Palaniappan, calling the deputy chief minister the state’s asset.
Simultaneously, 182 young orators, selected after a multi-level competition to campaign for the party ahead of the 2026 assembly elections, endorsed Udhayanidhi’s work and the party’s ideologies across the state. The winner of the competition, M. Moganidhi, was invited to speak at an event held as part of the birthday celebration by the DMK unit in Dubai.
A day before his birthday, Tamil Nadu’s minister for school education, Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi, stated that Udhayanidhi will be the chief minister in the future.
Conclusion: A Celebratory Milestone
Udhayanidhi Stalin’s first birthday as deputy chief minister was marked by grand celebrations, social welfare activities, and widespread public support. As he continues to rise in Tamil Nadu’s political landscape, Udhayanidhi is seen as a beacon of hope for the state’s future.