Generational shift in DMK; Udhayanidhi Stalin named Opposition Leader, K N Nehru as Deputy

CHENNAI: Following the swearing-in of Vijay as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, the state has also witnessed a leadership change in the Opposition camp. Udhayanidhi Stalin has been chosen as the new Leader of the Opposition from the DMK. At a meeting of the DMK legislature party held today, Udhayanidhi Stalin was elected as the party’s legislative leader. Senior DMK leader and former minister K. N. Nehru was selected as the deputy leader of the legislature party.

Meanwhile, Vijay took oath as the Chief Minister at a grand ceremony held at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Chennai. Thousands of fans, political leaders, and supporters attended the event.

However, the swearing-in ceremony also triggered a political controversy after it began with the singing of “Vande Mataram.” This was followed by the National Anthem and later the Tamil Thai Vazhthu. The DMK alleged that the move was aimed at pleasing the BJP and claimed it was done in line with new guidelines issued by the Union Home Ministry. The issue has since sparked a heated debate on social media between DMK and TVK supporters.

DMK supporters pointed out that “Vande Mataram” was not played even during the swearing-in ceremony of Suvendu Adhikari in BJP-ruled West Bengal. In response, TVK supporters shared videos from M. K. Stalin’s 2021 swearing-in ceremony and argued that “Vande Mataram” had also been played when Governor Rajendra Arlekar assumed office during Stalin’s tenure as Chief Minister. According to TVK, there was nothing unusual or unprecedented about the practice.