Introduction

M.K. Stalin is an Indian Tamil politician serving as the 8th and current Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu and the 2nd President of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), a regional political party. He was born on 1 March 1953 in Chennai, Tamil Nadu as the third son of late DMK supremo M. Karunanidhi and his second wife Dayalu Ammal. He completed his schooling from Madras Christian College Higher Secondary School and graduated with a degree in political science from Presidency College, Chennai. He was named after Joseph Stalin, the Soviet leader who died four days after his birth.

Stalin joined DMK at the age of 14 and rose through the ranks by holding various positions such as youth wing secretary, deputy general secretary, treasurer and working president. He contested and won six assembly elections from different constituencies such as Thousand Lights and Kolathur. He served as the 45th Mayor of Chennai from 1996 to 2002, becoming the first directly elected mayor of the city. He became the first Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu in 2009 under his father’s chief ministership and handled various portfolios such as industry, rural development, local administration, etc. He became the Leader of Opposition in 2016 after DMK lost the assembly elections to AIADMK and played a crucial role in exposing the corruption and misrule of the AIADMK government. He led DMK to a landslide victory in the 2021 assembly elections by securing 159 seats out of 234 and became the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu on 7 May 2021.

M.K. Stalin, Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu – Biography

Full Name	Muthuvel Karunanidhi Stalin
Date of Birth	1 March 1953
Place of Birth	Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Parents	Father: M. Karunanidhi (Former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu)
	Mother: Dayalu Ammal
Siblings	– M.K. Muthu (Elder Brother)
	– M.K. Alagiri (Elder Brother)
	– M.K. Tamilarasu (Younger Brother)
	– M.K. Selvi (Younger Sister)
Political Party	Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK)
Position	– 8th Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu
	– 2nd President of DMK
Education	– Schooling: Madras Christian College Higher Secondary School, Chennai
	– Degree: Political Science from Presidency College, Chennai
Political Journey	– Joined DMK at the age of 14
	– Held various positions within DMK: Youth Wing Secretary, Deputy General Secretary, Treasurer, and Working President
	– Contested and won six assembly elections from different constituencies: Thousand Lights and Kolathur
	– 45th Mayor of Chennai (1996-2002)
	– Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu (2009)
Achievements	– First directly elected Mayor of Chennai
	– Exposed corruption and misrule of the AIADMK government
	– Led DMK to a landslide victory in the 2021 assembly elections, securing 159 seats out of 234
Governance	– Focus on social justice, welfare, development, and transparency
	– Tackling the COVID-19 pandemic through various measures: increased testing, vaccination, oxygen supply, health infrastructure, and relief schemes
	– Implemented schemes and initiatives: COVID Family Support Scheme, Uzhavar Unavu Thittam (Farmers’ Food Scheme), Makkalai Thedi Maruthuvam (Healthcare at People’s Doorstep), Singara Chennai 2.0 (Beautiful Chennai 2.0), etc.
Vision	– Make Tamil Nadu a prosperous, progressive, and inclusive state
	– Ensure quality education, healthcare, employment, and infrastructure for all sections of society
	– Promote Tamil language, culture, and heritage
Challenges	– Economic recovery and industrial growth
	– Social harmony and federal relations
	– Seeking more autonomy and funds from the central government for the state
	– Forming alliances with regional parties and leaders to build a secular and progressive front against the BJP-led NDA

Early life and Education

Stalin was born as Muthuvel Karunanidhi Stalin on 1 March 1953 in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. His father M. Karunanidhi was a prominent Dravidian leader and five-time chief minister of Tamil Nadu. His mother Dayalu Ammal was his father’s second wife. He has two elder brothers M.K. Muthu and M.K. Alagiri, a younger brother M.K. Tamilarasu and a younger sister M.K. Selvi from his father’s other marriages.

Stalin completed his schooling from Madras Christian College Higher Secondary School in Chennai. He then joined Presidency College, Chennai and graduated with a degree in political science. He was named after Joseph Stalin, the Soviet leader who died four days after his birth, as his father was an admirer of communism.

Stalin was influenced by his father’s political ideology and activism and joined DMK at the age of 14. He started the DMK Gopalapuram Youth Wing with several friends and campaigned for his uncle Murasoli Maran in the 1967 elections.

Political Journey

Stalin rose through the ranks of DMK by holding various positions such as youth wing secretary, deputy general secretary, treasurer and working president. He contested and won six assembly elections from different constituencies such as Thousand Lights and Kolathur.

In 1984, he contested his first assembly election from Thousand Lights constituency but lost to K.A. Krishnaswamy of AIADMK by a margin of over 40,000 votes.
In 1989, he contested again from the same constituency and won by a margin of over 30,000 votes. He became one of the youngest MLAs in the state at the age of 36.
In 1991, he contested again from Thousand Lights constituency but lost to K.A. Krishnaswamy of AIADMK by a margin of over 50,000 votes.
In 1996, he contested again from the same constituency and won by a margin of over 70,000 votes.
In 1996, he also became the 45th Mayor of Chennai, becoming the first directly elected mayor of the city. He initiated or implemented various schemes and projects such as flyovers, stormwater drains, parks, libraries, etc. He served as the mayor till 2002.
In 2001, he contested again from Thousand Lights constituency and won by a margin of over 80,000 votes.
In 2006, he contested again from Thousand Lights constituency and won by a margin of over 90,000 votes. He also became the Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj in his father’s cabinet. He launched or supported various policies and programs such as Kalaignar Housing Scheme, Free Laptop Scheme, Free Bus Pass Scheme for students, etc.
In 2008, he was elected as the Treasurer of DMK, a key post in the party.
In 2009, he became the first Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu under his father’s chief ministership. He handled various portfolios such as industry, general administration, district revenue officers, minority welfare, rural development and local administration.
In 2011, he contested from Kolathur constituency for the first time and won by a margin of over 50,000 votes.
In 2016, He became the Leader of Opposition, after DMK lost the assembly elections to AIADMK by a narrow margin. He played a crucial role in exposing the corruption and misrule of the AIADMK government. He raised or protested against various issues such as NEET exam, CAA-NRC-NPR, farm laws, GST compensation, etc.
In 2017, he became the Working President of DMK after his father’s ill health.
In 2018, he became the President of DMK after his father’s death.
In 2021, he contested again from Kolathur constituency and won by a margin of over 90,000 votes. He led DMK to a landslide victory in the assembly elections by securing 159 seats out of 234 and became the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu on 7 May 2021.

Governance and Vision

Stalin has been governing Tamil Nadu with a focus on social justice, welfare, development and transparency. He has been tackling the COVID-19 pandemic by ramping up testing, vaccination, oxygen supply, health infrastructure and relief measures. He has also announced or implemented various schemes and initiatives such as COVID Family Support Scheme, Uzhavar Unavu Thittam (Farmers’ Food Scheme), Makkalai Thedi Maruthuvam (Healthcare at People’s Doorstep), Singara Chennai 2.0 (Beautiful Chennai 2.0), etc.

Stalin faces various challenges and opportunities as the chief minister in terms of economic recovery, industrial growth, social harmony, federal relations, etc. He has been seeking more autonomy and funds from the central government for the state. He has also been reaching out to other regional parties and leaders to form a secular and progressive alliance against the BJP-led NDA.

Stalin’s vision is to make Tamil Nadu a prosperous, progressive and inclusive state that upholds the principles of Dravidian movement and social justice. He wants to ensure quality education, health care, employment and infrastructure for all sections of society. He also wants to promote Tamil language, culture and heritage.

Conclusion

Stalin is a Dravidian leader and chief minister who has made a significant contribution to Tamil Nadu politics and society. He has been following his father’s footsteps and legacy in leading DMK and the state. He has been praised for his administrative skills, political acumen and people-oriented approach. He has also been criticized for his dynastic politics, nepotism and corruption allegations.

Stalin is married to Durga Stalin since 1975 and has two children: Udhayanidhi Stalin (who is also an actor and politician) and Senthamarai Stalin. His hobbies include watching films, listening to music and travelling.

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