When Tamil Nadu’s main opposition party DMK started showing aggression against the ruling AIADMK at the state and BJP led National Democratic Alliance government at the centre over the Cauvery issue, one another development also not gone unnoticed. That is the prominence given to DMK working president MK Stalin’s son and actor-producer Udhayanidhi in the ongoing protests seeking constitution of Cauvery Management Board (CMB).

From the flash protest staged at Valluvar Kottam on April 1 to impromptu rally taken to Marina on April 5, Udhayanidhi was seen next to his father Stalin everywhere sending out a strong message to the party leaders and cadres on his “interest” in serious politics. As Stalin set out on a week-long padayatra from Trichy to Cuddalore criss-crossing delta districts condemning the Centre and seeking immediate constitution of the Cauvery Management Board, Udhayanidhi has chosen to walk along with his father to share the limelight.

Udhayanidhi’s sudden interest towards active politics coincides with the entry of superstars Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan into politics. He himself was more than frank about his timing of taking up active politics. Recalling his campaign for his grandfather and DMK chief M Karunanidhi and his father during the elections, he told a vernacular website in January this year, “I have been away from all this for a while but now since all the actors are coming in, I think it is time for me to enter politics too.”

Udhayanidhi who started as a movie producer made his acting debut in Oru Kal Oru Kannadi in 2012. So far he has done nine films with moderate success. Udhayanidhi also looks after the operation of the DMK mouthpiece Murasoli as its managing director.

Former Chennai Mayor and DMK South Chennai district secretary Ma Subramanian said that Udhayanidhi is not someone new to DMK. “He is part of the DMK since his childhood. I had seen him as a child seeking vote for his father in Thousand Lights Assembly seat during the 1984 state election,” he said.

He said that he had participated in the DMK protests in the past too. “When the party held a day-long hunger strike against the NEET last year, he observed fast along with us at Alandur in Chennai. Now he has actively taken part in the DMK movements. There is nothing wrong in it,” he said.

A senior DMK leader said that when the party has a good chance of bouncing back after facing successive electoral setbacks since 2011, it is unfortunate the party leadership chose to promote Udhayanidhi. “Udhayanidhi’s entry is going to lead to sidelining of some seniors and it will not in any way going to boost the morale of the party cadres. Moreover, it is only going provide fodder to the DMK’s opponents take up the dynastic politics campaign once again,” the leader said requesting anonymity.

Writer and political commentator Azhai Senthilnathan termed the Udhayanidhi’s political entry as a political and strategical blunder for the DMK. “One of the main accusation on the previous DMK government headed by M Karunanidhi was the family politics. Though Stalin was long accepted, the entry of Alagiri, Kanimozhi and Dayanidhi Maran did not go down well with the people. After the allegations of the scams cropped up, Karunanidhi himself tried to keep them out. Stalin almost sidelined other family members. When the party leaders were hopeful of getting their own space, Udhayanidhi is being projected in the party. It is a strategical blunder,” he said.

Equating Stalin’s attempting to project Udhayanidhi with Karunanidhi projecting his eldest son Muthu against MG Ramachandran, he said that Udhayanidhi too would face the fate of Muthu as it is too early for him.