If there is one visible weak point for MK Stalin, it would be his propaganda towards 'heir politics'. India had witnessed the erosion of some of the national parties in the wake of the rise of 'heir politics'. The rise of such a political spectrum has always been an Achilles heel for the leaders who tend to score big during their reigns. For several years, Tamil Nadu ruling DMK has been tagged in the limelight for its heir politics, which had adversely impacted the party and its leadership and heavily disturbed its political gains in the state. 

When MK Stalin took over the leadership after the demise of his father and DMK stalwart M Karunanidhi, the former had faced a political heat within the family and beyond the party. While senior leaders unanimously backed MK Stalin as the next face of the seven-decade-old party, he felt an imperative need of addressing the political crisis brought by heir politics. He had affirmed that his family members will never get involved in politics. However, his affirmation didn't last long as the DMK had displayed that it's habitual for the heir politics when the party announced Udhayanidhi Stalin's candidature in the 2021 assembly polls. 

In the state election, Stalin has held the edge of winning the race as the ADMK was in a void of clear leadership and lacked fidelity from the Tamil Nadu voters. Besides Udhayanidhi's candidature for a comfortable election win, he also had become a star campaigner of DMK, touring across the state and displaying that he is next in the line. Though the DMK had come across the ordeal and criticisms over awarding a ticket to Udhayanidhi Stalin and upholding the heir politics, the mood for the change of power was pervasive across the state, which largely helped the DMK win the polls and form a new government with a solid majority. 

Udhayanidhi Stalin had also won the election from Chepauk- Triplicane constituency, Chennai, and entered the assembly for the first time. As MK Stalin's administration, his announcements, and measures to beat the pandemic and bring back the state's economy were largely discussed, the heir politics went behind and Udhayanidhi had also scored well in his constituency. The recent incident has resurrected the trouble for DMK over exercising heir politics despite it adds more setbacks to the party.

On Monday, when the budget session of the assembly was inching closer to the conclusion, Assembly Speaker had made announcements of nominating the legislators to the top posts in various universities in the state. In what has become a big surprise, Speaker Appavu has announced that Udhayanidhi Stalin has been nominated as a member of Anna University's syndicate. Anna University is a top varsity in Tamil Nadu and his nomination has drawn huge attention with a mixture of responses as the swift rise of Udhayanidhi Stalin had signalled that Stalin can't say 'NO' to heir politics and that the DMK will less likely change this habit. 

According to Anna University Chennai Act 1978, the university's syndicate can consist of one MLA of the state as its member besides Vice-Chancellor, Ex-Officio members, Deans, and educationalists. The Syndicate is the highest decision-making body of the universities and it approves the matters pertaining to the administration. Though it's legitimate in appointing a legislator to the syndicate, educationalists raise concerns that the government invokes heir politics to fill the seat in the syndicate of Tamil Nadu's top and eminent institution. In the albeit of earning good reception of his rule in the state, MK Stalin could have stayed off from giving more talking points to the opposition.

The appointment has come at a high time when the DMK is advocating social justice for the education system by passing the bill to ban the NEET in Tamil Nadu. According to reports, the appointment of Udhayanidhi Stalin has drawn varied responses from the faculty of Anna University. Some of the professors believe that his induction to the syndicate would bring support from the government for the university. However, a section of professors had expressed concerns that it would be difficult for them if Udhayanidhi remain inaccessible. 

Speaking to The Hindu, a professor said that the accessibility of the MLA would help them with concerns and grievances. He said that when R Natraj was in the syndicate, it had helped the professors as he was always accessible and he also had shown good respect towards faculty. Some of the educationalists had said that the need of the hour is to revive higher education and not to revive the heir politics and though the appointment has been celebrated by the DMK cadres, it would meet with the political heat during the upcoming local body polls in the state. 

Besides nominating Udhayanidhi Stalin to Anna University, Speaker Appavu has nominated several MLAs to similar posts in various universities. Five MLAs - Vetriazhagan, Joseph Samuel, Idream Murthy, Senthilkumar, and Maragatham Kumaravel, are nominated to the Senate of the University of Madras. Of these five, Maragatham Kumaravel and Senthilkumar belong to the opposition ADMK. All the MLAs will hold the post for three years and if they cease to be a member of the Assembly during this period, their tenure in the syndicate will come to an end. 

Udhayanidhi Stalin took to Twitter and thanked MK Stalin and Speaker Appavu for appointing him to the syndicate of Anna University. With his new appointment, Udhayanidhi's graph surges with more prominence in the party and in the rule. Earlier, it was speculated that he will be awarded a ministerial post in MK Stalin's cabinet. However, he didn't make up to the cabinet and in four months of becoming an MLA for the first time, he has got placed in one of the powerful bodies in the state's top university.