BJP slams Udhayanidhi Stalin’s elevation as Dy CM, says “Not mature enough”

Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], September 29 (ANI): Tamil Nadu BJP Vice President Narayanan Thirupathy criticised the recent cabinet reshuffle of the state government and Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin’s elevation as Deputy Chief Minister.

In a self-made video, the BJP leader said that Udhayanidhi Stalin does not have the “maturity” to hold the post of a minister, let alone be the Deputy CM.

“Appointing ministers or deputy chief ministers is the prerogative of the Chief Minister, we don’t deny that. He has all the right. But Udhayanidhi Stalin does not have enough maturity to become not only the Deputy Chief Minister but also a minister. A person becomes a minister, degrading, demeaning, saying that he will eradicate sanathan dharma, and you don’t apologise for that. How can he become the Deputy Chief Minister?” Thirupathy asked.

“Very interestingly, surprisingly, it’s a shame on the government we are going to have a minister, Senthil Balaji who was there in jail for 417 days. He has come out on bail and is going to sign as a minister who is going to the Enforcement Directorate office, as per the directions of the Supreme Court. An accused will be signing as a minister,” he added.

DMK leader and State Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin was elevated to the position of the Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu on Saturday. He is currently serving as Minister for Youth Welfare and Sports Development. Additionally, he will also take on the portfolio of planning and development. Stalin is likely to take the oath as the Deputy CM later today.

The announcement comes as part of a major cabinet reshuffle in the state government. The reshuffle will also witness Senthil Balaji being re-inducted into the Tamil Nadu cabinet. Balaji walked out of Puzhal Central Prison in Chennai after the Supreme Court granted him bail in a money laundering case linked to the cash for jobs scam. Balaji was arrested by the Directorate of Enforcement in June last year.

Earlier, BJP spokesperson ANS Prasad targeted ruling DMK in Tamil Nadu, saying that the party’s history has been marked with “years of betrayal to the people and prioritising family interests over public welfare” Udhayanidhi Stalin’s elevation as Deputy CM.

“The DMK’s 75-year history has been marked by betrayal of Tamil Nadu’s interests, prioritising family interests over public welfare. Despite being part of the alliance, DMK has denied its partners a share in power and instead appointed Udhayanidhi Stalin as Deputy Chief Minister,” Prasad said in a statement on Saturday.

Prasad stated that the proposed reshuffle in the cabinet would “mark the beginning of the end of DMK” in Tamil Nadu.

“Stalin’s criticism of the BJP and Prime Minister Modi will fall flat due to his own corruption and nepotism. The people will not buy into his false propaganda, and the recent cabinet reshuffle may mark the beginning of the end for DMK in Tamil Nadu,” he added.