Udhayanidhi has been made deputy CM not to assist me, but to assist people: Stalin

Tamil Nadu chief minister M K Stalin on Sunday said his son Udhayanidhi has been appointed deputy CM not to assist him, but to assist the people of Tamil Nadu.

``He has been given the additional responsibility for him to work harder for the growth of the party and Tamil Nadu. He has to work more than the past.’’ said CM Stalin. The sports sector has made rapid strides in the state under Udhayanidhi as a sports minister, he added.

Additionally, Udhayanidhi has been fulfilling the objective of the special programme implementation department, Stalin said. "As party’s youth wing secretary, he has drawn youth towards DMK as well."

Meanwhile, Stalin rejected the criticism by opposition parties for terming Senthil Balaji’s imprisonment in a money laundering case as a `sacrifice’.

``A group conspired to use him against DMK. Fifteen months of imprisonment was the price he paid for it. Hence I called it a sacrifice. But some are unable to tolerate it,’’ he said.