Tamil Nadu: Rumours on Udhaya’s Elevation Start Again

Chennai: Speculations on State Minister for Youth Affairs, Udhaynaidhi Stalin’s elevation as Deputy Chief Minister suddenly started again as Chief Minister M K Stalin assured pursuing media persons that the ‘change’ that he had promised them would happen and that he would not disappoint them.

The ‘change’ that had been part of the floating conjectures is over a cabinet reshuffle that the media has been forecasting. Since the elevation to Udhayanidhi Stalin is also part of that media narrative, every time Stalin confirms a possible ‘change,’ the media goes gaga over the State getting a Deputy Chief Minister.

So when Stalin, accosted by the media brigade a Kolathur, where he had gone to inaugurate a slew of projects totally worth Rs 45,75,76,000, told the media that there would be a ‘change,’ the rumour mills started whirring immediately throwing even September 29 as the possible date for the cabinet reshuffle that would also see the elevation of Udhayanidhi Stalin.

It would be September 29, the rumours said, because the Chief Minister is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 27 in New Delhi to press for the immediate release of Union Government funds meant for the State.

Once the Chief Minister returned to Chennai the reshuffle would happen, they said. Earlier, it was said that it would happen once former State Minister V Senthil Balaji came out on bail in the case filed against him by the Enforcement Directorate as the DMK would like to induct him back into the Ministry.

With the enlargement of Senthil Balaji on bail getting postponed, the cabinet reshuffle is also getting delayed, the grapevine had it. Now even though one is not sure of when Senthil Balaji will get bail, the rumours have started predicting dates for the reshuffle and the appointment of the Deputy Chief Minister.

The rumours have it that the government would like to do the swearing in of Ministers, which has to be done by the State Governor R N Ravi, and the appointment of Deputy Chief Minister that could be done without the Governor together, it is learnt. But an inordinate delay in Senthil Balaji’s release might make the government first appoint the Deputy Chief Minister and sweating in new Ministers later on.

The event at Kolathur, where the Chief Minister’s reply triggered the rumour on Tuesday, saw the Chief Minister declaring open a school building, a renovated gym and a memorial structure inside a crematorium and also interacting with school students and presenting them educational aids.

Stalin also inspected the site for building the co-working space and the Citizen Service Centre that he had already announced for his constituency and also the under construction community centre.