Udhayanidhi Stalin Elected Leader of Opposition in Tamil Nadu Assembly

Udhayanidhi Stalin has been elected leader of the DMK Legislature Party, making him the Leader of the Opposition in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly. The decision was taken at a meeting of DMK MLAs on May 7, 2026, at the party's headquarters, Anna Arivalayam, in Chennai.

As the head of the second-largest party in the Assembly, Udhayanidhi will lead the opposition against Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, setting up a notable political contest between two leaders with backgrounds in the film industry. The 17th Assembly is expected to convene soon for its first session.

K.N. Nehru has been appointed deputy leader of the DMK Legislature Party, while former minister E.V. Velu has been named the party whip. The appointments were confirmed in a press release issued by the DMK on May 10, 2026.

The Assembly session is scheduled to begin later this month, where Udhayanidhi Stalin will formally assume his role as Leader of the Opposition.