DMK leader Udhayanidhi Stalin along with other senior party leaders during a meeting of party MLA candidate at Anna Arivalayam, party headquarters in Chennai on May 7, 2026. | Photo credit: PTI
Former Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin was elected as the President of the DMK Legislature Party. As the head of the second largest party in the House, he will act as the Leader of the Opposition.
A DMK press release said that Mr. Udhayanidhi Stalin was elected at the DMK MLA meeting held on May 7 at the party headquarters in Anna Arivalayam.
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The rally will witness a political clash between Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay and Mr. Udhayanidhi Stalin – both of whom have film backgrounds.
Belonging to the new generation of politicians, Mr. Udhayanidhi Stalin has moved away from the traditional attire associated with Tamil Nadu politics – a white dhoti with a party color border teamed with a white shirt, always wearing jeans and a white t-shirt with the DMK youth wing logo. In this sense, he mirrors Mr. Vijay, who appeared in a jacket and trousers for the swearing-in ceremony.
Mr. Udhayanidhi Stalin is stepping into the shoes of his father, MP Stalin, who will not be present in the Assembly after his defeat in Kolathur constituency. His role is similar to that played by Mr. MK Stalin from 2016 to 2021 when he served as Leader of Opposition as former DMK President M. Karunanidhi was unable to attend the House due to age-related health issues and lack of proper accessibility arrangements.
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Mr. Udhayanidhi Stalin rose rapidly in the party after being appointed as the DMK youth wing leader, a position he continues to hold. After the DMK returned to power in 2021, he became first the Minister and later the Deputy Chief Minister and became the main power center alongside his father, Mr. MK Stalin. Now he has to bear the responsibility of leading the party in the parliament.
Re-elected from the Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni constituency for a second term, he will serve in the House alongside DMK’s arch-rival All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, who was relegated to the third position.
Although Mr. Udhayanidhi Stalin has established himself as an effective campaigner and public speaker, he now faces an entirely different challenge as the Leader of the Opposition. He will have to lead the party as the new dispensation attempts to transfer responsibility for various affairs and administrative problems to the previous regime.
Senior DMK leader KN Nehru has been appointed as the DMK legislature party vice-president, while another former minister, EV Velu, will serve as party whip.
Published – 10 May 2026 19:19 IST
