M. K. Stalin facts for kids

Quick facts for kids M. K. Stalin
Official portrait, 2021
8th Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu
Incumbent
Assumed office 7 May 2021
Governor	Banwarilal Purohit (2021) R. N. Ravi (2021–present)
Deputy Chief Minister	Udhayanidhi Stalin (2024–present)
Preceded by	Edappadi K. Palaniswami
Additional ministries Incumbent Assumed office 7 May 2021 Ministry and Departments Public Home Police Indian Administrative Service Indian Police Service Indian Forest Service District Revenue Officers General Administration Special Initiatives Special Programme Implementation Welfare Of Differently-abled Persons Other Departments not allocated to any Minister Preceded by Edappadi K. Palaniswami CM
2nd President of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam
Incumbent
Assumed office 28 August 2018
General Secretary	Perasiriyar Anbazhagan Durai Murugan
Preceded by	M. Karunanidhi
Working President of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam
In office 4 January 2017 – 28 August 2018
President	M. Karunanidhi
General Secretary	K. Anbazhagan
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	Position abolished
17th Leader of the Opposition of Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly
In office 24 May 2016 – 6 May 2021
Governor	Konijeti Rosaiah C. Vidyasagar Rao Banwarilal Purohit
Chief Minister	Jayalalitha O. Panneerselvam Edappadi K Palaniswami
Preceded by	Vijayakanth
1st Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu
In office 29 May 2009 – 15 May 2011
Governor	Surjit Singh Barnala
Chief Minister	M. Karunanidhi
Portfolios	General Administration District Revenue Officers Industries Minorities Welfare Passports Special Initiatives Social Reforms Municipal Administration Rural Development Panchayats and Panchayat Union Poverty Alleviation Programmes Rural Indebtedness Urban and Rural Water Supply
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	O. Panneerselvam (in 2017)
Treasurer of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam
In office 27 December 2008 – 27 August 2018
General Secretary	K. Anbazhagan
Preceded by	Arcot N. Veeraswami
Succeeded by	Durai Murugan
Cabinet Minister Government of Tamil Nadu
In office 13 May 2006 – 15 May 2011
Minister	Rural Development Local Administration
Chief Minister	M. Karunanidhi
Preceded by	K. P. Anbalagan
Succeeded by	P. Mohan
Deputy Gen.Secretary of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam
In office 2 June 2003 – 26 December 2008
General Secretary	K. Anbazhagan
Preceded by	position established
Succeeded by	position abolished
45th Mayor of Chennai
In office 25 October 1996 – 6 September 2002
Preceded by	R. Arumugam (in 1973)
Succeeded by	Karate R. Thiagarajan
Member of Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly
Incumbent
Assumed office 23 May 2011
Preceded by	constituency established
Constituency	Kolathur
In office 13 May 1996 – 15 May 2011
Preceded by	K. A. Krishnaswamy
Succeeded by	B. Valarmathi
Constituency	Thousand Lights
In office 27 January 1989 – 30 January 1991
Preceded by	K. A. Krishnaswamy
Succeeded by	K. A. Krishnaswamy
Constituency	Thousand Lights
Youth wing Secretary of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam
In office 20 July 1982 – 6 July 2017
General Secretary	K. Anbazhagan
Preceded by	Position Established
Succeeded by	M. P. Saminathan
Personal details
Born	Muthuvel Karunanidhi Stalin (1953-03-01) 1 March 1953 (age 72) Madras, Madras State (now Chennai, Tamil Nadu), India
Political party	Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam
Spouse	Durga Stalin ​ (m. 1975)​
Children	Udhayanidhi Senthamarai
Parents	M. Karunanidhi (father) Dayalu Ammal (mother)
Relatives	Karunanidhi family
Residences	25/9, Chittaranjan Road, Alwarpet, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Education	Bachelor of Arts
Alma mater	Presidency College, Chennai
Occupation	Politician
Signature
Nickname	MKS

Muthuvel Karunanidhi Stalin was born on March 1, 1953. He is an Indian politician. He is currently the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, a state in India. He has held this important position since 2021.

Stalin is the son of M. Karunanidhi, who was also a Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. He leads the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) political party as its president since 2018. Before becoming Chief Minister, he served as the Mayor of Chennai from 1996 to 2002. He was also the first Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu from 2009 to 2011. In 2022, he was named one of India's Most Powerful Personalities.

Early Life and Family Background

Stalin was born in Madras (now Chennai) on March 1, 1953. He is the third son of M. Karunanidhi, a former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. His mother is Dayalu Ammal.

His father, Karunanidhi, named him Stalin. This was because he was speaking at a meeting to honor Soviet leader Joseph Stalin. Joseph Stalin had passed away just four days before M. K. Stalin was born.

Stalin went to Madras Christian College Higher Secondary School. He studied history at Presidency College, Chennai. He earned his degree in 1973. In 2009, Anna University gave him an honorary doctorate. This is a special award for his achievements.

Stalin married Durga in 1975. They have two children. His son, Udhayanidhi Stalin, is an actor and politician. His daughter, Senthamarai Sabareesan, is an entrepreneur. She runs Sunshine Schools in Chennai. Stalin has publicly shared that he does not follow any religion.

Political Journey

Stalin started his political journey as a teenager. He created the DMK Gopalapuram Youth Wing with his friends. At 14, he campaigned for his uncle in the 1967 elections. In 1973, he was chosen for the DMK's General Committee.

He became well-known in 1976. He was jailed for protesting against a period called "The Emergency" in India. He was hurt while in jail. Another prisoner, C. Chittibabu, sadly died while trying to protect him. Stalin even took his final college exams while in prison.

Leading the DMK Youth Wing

In 1968, Stalin started the DMK Youth Wing in a small barber shop. In 1983, he made it a big group across Tamil Nadu. He led it as the Youth Wing Secretary for over 40 years. He traveled all over the state. He helped young people learn about politics at the local level.

Election Results

Stalin has participated in many elections. Here is how he performed as a DMK candidate:

Stalin first ran for the Assembly from the Thousand Lights constituency in Chennai in 1984, but he did not win. In 1989, he won from the same constituency. The DMK government was dismissed in 1991. In 1991, he lost the election from Thousand Lights. But in 1996, he won again as an MLA.

In 2003, Stalin became the Deputy General Secretary of the DMK party. In 2011, he changed his constituency. He moved from Thousand Lights to Kolathur.

Mayor of Chennai

In 1996, Stalin became the first directly elected Mayor of Chennai. He started a project called Singara Chennai, meaning "Beautiful Chennai". This project aimed to improve the city's facilities. His work earned him the title Managara Thanthai, or "father of the city".

As Mayor, Stalin made the city's garbage disposal better. He focused on cleaning the city. He also started projects for health, public buildings, and schools. He built many flyovers and bridges to reduce traffic. He improved government schools to be as good as private ones. Parks and fountains were also set up. He was re-elected as Mayor in 2001.

However, a new law in 2002 stopped a person from holding two elected posts at once. Stalin was also an MLA at the time. This law was seen as a way to remove him as Mayor. The court said the law could not be applied to him in that way. But the court also said a person could not be mayor for two terms in a row. Stalin did not challenge this decision.

State Minister and Deputy Chief Minister

In the 2006 Assembly Elections, the DMK party won control of the state again. Stalin became the Minister for Rural Development and Local Administration. He held this position for his entire term. He helped create many Women Self-Help Groups across the state. He also started large drinking water projects. In 2008, he became the Treasurer of the DMK.

On May 29, 2009, Stalin was named the first Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. This was a new and important role.

Leader of the Opposition

For the 2016 Assembly election, Stalin traveled across the state. He started a tour called Namakku Naame, meaning "We for Ourselves". He wanted to connect with young people. Stalin won the Kolathur constituency. He was then appointed as the leader of the opposition party. In 2017, he went on another Namakku Naame tour. In 2018, his father, Karunanidhi, passed away. After this, Stalin became the president of the DMK party.

M. K. Stalin and Sedapatti Muthiah in 2018

Leading the Secular Progressive Alliance

Stalin formed the Secular Progressive Alliance in Tamil Nadu. He led this group in the 2019 general election. The alliance won 39 out of 40 Parliament seats. They also won 12 out of 21 Assembly by-elections. This was a big victory for him as the new DMK President.

Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu

In the 2021 Assembly elections, Stalin led the Secular Progressive Alliance campaign. They won 159 out of 234 seats. The DMK party alone won 132 seats, which was a clear majority. Stalin took his oath as Chief Minister on May 7, 2021.

He became Chief Minister during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. He set up a "war room" to check on hospital beds, ambulances, and oxygen. He even visited COVID-19 patients in the hospital while wearing a special suit. He also created a new economic advisory council with famous economists. His government worked to reduce vaccine wastage in the state.

In August 2021, Stalin allowed people from all castes to become temple priests. He said this fulfilled the dream of reformist leaders. In the same month, a survey by India Today magazine ranked him first among all Chief Ministers in India. He also changed the name of "Sri Lankan Tamil refugee camps" to "rehabilitation camps." He said, "They are not orphans, we are there for them." In September 2021, he announced that Periyar's birthday would be celebrated as Social Justice Day every year.

In June 2021, Stalin said his government would review legal cases filed by the previous government. In September 2021, his government dropped over 5570 cases. These cases were against journalists and protestors.

In May 2022, Stalin welcomed the release of A. G. Perarivalan. Perarivalan was convicted in the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi. Stalin hugged him at the Chennai Airport.

Ungal Thoguthiyil Mudhalamaichar

One of Stalin's key achievements is 'Ungal Thoguthiyil Mudhalamaichar'. This means "Chief Minister in your Constituency". It is a service to solve problems and petitions from citizens. In his first 100 days, he addressed over 2.30 lakh (230,000) issues.

This department started from a program called 'Ungal Thoguthiyil Stalin'. Stalin had collected people's problems during his election campaign. He promised to fix them within 100 days if he won. Experts say this scheme shows the DMK's idea of "Go to the People".

Tamil Nadu's First Agriculture Budget

On August 14, 2021, Stalin released Tamil Nadu's first ever agriculture budget. It was dedicated to farmers protesting against new farm laws. This special budget was made after talking to farmers from 18 districts. It aims to increase the land used for farming from 60% to 75%.

A new plan called 'Kalaignarin Anaithu Grama Orungaindha Velan Valarchi Thittam' was launched. This plan helps turn unused land into farmland.

Illam Thedi Kalvi

Stalin launched the 'Illam Thedi Kalvi' scheme on October 19, 2021. This means "Education at Doorstep". It is India's largest volunteer-based education program. Over 3.3 million students are taught by 200,000 women volunteers. They teach for 90 minutes every day.

Experts say this scheme has helped students recover from learning loss. It has especially helped students from disadvantaged groups.

Innuyir Kappom - Nammai Kakkum 48

On November 18, 2021, Stalin launched 'Innuyir Kappom - Nammai Kakkum 48'. This means "Saving Lives - 48 Hours to Protect Us". Through this scheme, the state government pays for emergency care for accident victims. This covers the first 48 hours of treatment.

The goal is to reduce deaths from road accidents. Over 600 hospitals are part of this scheme. All accident victims in Tamil Nadu get free treatment for the first 48 hours. This is true even if they are from other states or countries. The government pays up to ₹1 lakh (100,000 rupees) per person. This scheme is important because many lives can be saved if treated quickly.

Chief Minister's Dashboard

Stalin launched the 'CM Dashboard Monitoring System' on December 23, 2021. This system helps him track all government welfare schemes. He can see how they are being implemented and how funds are used. It also shows the number of people who benefit.

The dashboard helps with better monitoring and faster decisions. It updates the Chief Minister on water levels in dams, rainfall, crime reports, and housing schemes. It also shows the status of requests made through the Chief Minister Helpline.

Naan Mudhalvan

On March 1, 2022, Stalin launched the 'Naan Mudhalvan' scheme. This means "I am the First". It aims to give skills to about 10 lakh (1 million) young people each year. This helps them use their talents for the country's benefit.

The scheme helps identify and train talented students. It offers career and academic guidance. It also provides spoken English lessons and training in coding and robotics. Counselors and doctors offer guidance on health and overall development.

Green Tamil Nadu Mission

Stalin launched the Green Tamil Nadu Mission on September 24, 2022. This mission aims to increase the green cover in the state. The goal is to go from 23.7% to 33% in ten years. The mission will help with tree planting. People can also buy seedlings online through its portal.

Pudhumai Penn

On September 5, 2022, Stalin launched the 'Pudhumai Penn' scheme. This means "Modern Woman". This scheme helps girls from government schools get higher education. It gives girl students who studied from Class 5 to Class 12 in government schools ₹1,000 every month. This money is given until they finish their graduation or diploma.

About six lakh (600,000) girls will benefit each year. The government set aside ₹698 crore (6.98 billion rupees) for this scheme. Stalin also announced that 25 municipal schools would become "Schools of Excellence". These schools will have modern classrooms and promote arts, sports, and music.

Chief Minister's Breakfast Scheme

Stalin launched the 'Chief Minister's Breakfast Scheme' on September 15, 2022. This scheme aims to prevent hunger and improve nutrition in children. It helps students get proper nutrition and encourages children from poor families to attend school.

The scheme will be implemented in over 1,500 government schools. More than 1.14 lakh (114,000) primary school children will benefit. Stalin hopes this scheme will be a good example for other states.

Governing Council on Climate Change

On October 23, 2022, Stalin set up the Tamil Nadu Governing Council on Climate Change (GCCC). This council has 22 members, including economists and experts.

The GCCC provides guidance for the Tamil Nadu Climate Change Mission. It advises on activities to adapt to and reduce climate change. It also helps guide the state's plan for climate action. The council monitors progress and encourages research. It also looks at how other places handle climate change to learn from them. Tamil Nadu has already started three important missions: Green Mission, Climate Change Mission, and Wetlands Mission.

Egalitarianism and Social Justice

On August 15, 2021, Stalin started a process to appoint priests from all castes in temples. This was different from the traditional system where only Brahmin priests were appointed. He said this would fulfill the dream of former leaders like M. Karunanidhi and Periyar. They wanted everyone, regardless of caste, to have equal rights in worship. This policy was seen as a step towards social change and fighting discrimination.

Awards and Recognitions

• Anna University gave Stalin an honorary doctorate. This was for his work in governance and community development.
• He received the Kentucky Colonel Award. This is a high award from Kentucky in the United States. It was given for his public service.
• Stalin was also named Kentucky's Goodwill Ambassador. Famous people like former US Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush have also received this honor.
• In 2011, the Government of Tamil Nadu received a Special Award for being the Best State among large states in India. It also won the Diamond State Award for Civil Safety, Drinking Water and Sanitation, and Women's Development.
• Tamil Nadu won many Nirmal Gram Awards for keeping villages clean. This happened when Stalin was the Minister of Rural and Local Administration.

Filmography

Actor

• Ore Raththam (1987)
• Makkal Aanayittal (1988)
• Kurinji Malar- TV Series (late 1988?)
• Suriya — TV Series

Producer

• Nambikkai Natchathram (1978)

Images for kids

See also

• M. K. Stalin ministry