Udhayanidhi Stalin is currently the Leader of Opposition in Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly.(Photo: Dynamite News)
Chennai: Udhayanidhi Stalin, son of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, grandson of the late DMK patriarch, M Karunanidhi, has become the center of another political controversy on Tuesday. Former DY CM is again in deep legal trouble after his misogynistic comments. Leader of Opposition in Tamil Nadu has been arrested by police from his residence in Chennai, for questioning after a remark he made against actress and close friend of Tamil Nadu CM Joseph Vijay in a public meeting in Thanjavur, reopening a political debate.
This new controversy has also reopened the cases for many controversial statements made by Udhayanidhi over the years that have caused both political and legal wrangles.
The controversy makes a second headline for DMK Leader Udhayanidhi Stalin in Tamil Nadu after Police took him into custody after questioning, for allegedly making a double meaning remark in a DMK rally yesterday, on the Cauvery water dispute during a farmers' rally.
Media reports said that some of the audience members chanted the name of actress Trisha Krishnan during the rally followed by Udhayanidhi who allegedly made a double meaning remark. The statement drew wrath from all the political opposition parties, especially the ruling TVK.
Besides a formal police complaint, the Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay-led TVK also made a formal complaint to the National Commission for Women demanding action on the remarks.
ALSO READ: Udhayanidhi Stalin Detained Over Alleged ‘Trisha’ Remark, Calls Police Action ‘Vengeful’
Udhayanidhi, in front of police, said the statement made was joke and he will challenge it through the courts.
The DMK has denied the allegations, alleging that they are politically motivated, with senior DMK leader TKS Elangovan saying that Udhayanidhi had only criticised state government and never called out the name of the actress Trisha.
Born on November 27, 1977, Udhayanidhi Stalin is currently the Leader of Opposition in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, a position he has held since May 2026.
Before entering politics, he built a successful career in the Tamil film industry as an actor, producer and distributor through Red Giant Movies. He graduated in Commerce from Loyola College, Chennai, after completing his schooling at Don Bosco Matriculation Higher Secondary School.
His political journey began in 2019 when he became the secretary of DMK youth wing. In 2021, he was elected as the MLA from Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni constituency. He later served as Tamil Nadu's Minister for Youth Welfare and Sports Development before becoming the state's third Deputy Chief Minister between 2024 and 2026.
Perhaps the biggest controversy in Udhayanidhi Stalin's political career came in 2023 when he compared Sanatana Dharma to diseases such as dengue and malaria.
Arguing that Sanatana Dharma promoted caste discrimination and social inequality, he said it should be "eradicated" rather than merely opposed.
The remarks triggered nationwide outrage, with BJP leaders, Hindu organisations and several religious groups accusing him of insulting Hindu beliefs. The controversy even reached the Supreme Court, where observations were made on the responsibility public representatives carry while making sensitive statements.
Udhayanidhi, however, defended his comments, insisting they were directed at social discrimination and reflected the ideological principles of the Dravidian movement rather than criticism of individual religious beliefs.
Another controversy erupted when Udhayanidhi described Sanskrit as a "dead language" while questioning the Centre's financial support for Sanskrit compared to Tamil.
The statement drew sharp criticism from BJP leaders, who accused him of insulting India's linguistic and cultural heritage. Supporters of Udhayanidhi argued that his remarks were part of the long-standing Dravidian movement's demand for greater recognition and funding for regional languages, particularly Tamil.
Whether over religion, language or political speeches, Udhayanidhi Stalin has frequently found himself at the centre of controversies that have extended beyond Tamil Nadu and attracted national attention.
