Chennai: As actor-turned-politician Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam is courted by Tamil Nadu’s youth demanding change, Naam Tamil Katchi (NTK) chief Seeman has launched a counterstrategy, recalibrating the get together’s method by way of caste and regional illustration to not solely stop about 8 per cent vote share from going to TVK but in addition to develop its assist base forward of the 2026 meeting polls.
NTK officers instructed ThePrint that the get together has finalized candidates in additional than 100 constituencies and the choice relies on social and regional issues in addition to Tamil ideological strains.
“The technique is to provide voice to teams which have historically been ignored by each Dravidian events. For instance, Dalits, tribal communities, small OBC teams that aren’t within the numerical majority, and even Brahmins have been chosen as candidates in these 100-plus constituencies. It will assist not solely counter the most important Dravidian political events (events) but in addition new entrant TVK,” an NTK insider instructed ThePrint.
For years Seeman pitched himself as a Tamil nationalist different to the Dravidian duopoly. Now, his experiments with a tailor-made caste-based social engineering mannequin purpose to develop the NTK’s attain and defend its base.
Political analyst N. Sathya Moorthy stated this was an actual change in NTK’s method.
“Ever because it began contesting elections from the 2016 meeting polls, NTK has by no means been seen fielding candidates based mostly on caste and has began fielding candidates based mostly on their ideological leanings and the way a lot effort they’ve put in for the expansion of the get together. This may very well be a brand new technique to counter the rise of Mr. Vijay’s TVK,” Satya Moorthy instructed ThePrint.
Different political analysts within the state stated Seeman’s newest technique isn’t just about sustaining NTK’s 6-8% vote share, but in addition an try and construct new caste and region-based blocs that would give the get together affect in 2026.
Political commentator Ravindran Duraisamy instructed ThePrint that the NTK’s present purpose is to usher in communities which might be “ignored by the AIADMK”, particularly non-Vaniyars and non-Gounder teams.
“Within the western constituencies, NTK is fielding Dalit candidates usually constituencies as nicely. Within the south, it’s drawing on the legacy of Muthuramalinga Thevar to achieve out to Muklathor and Nadar. This can be a calculated social engineering plan, very similar to the Kanshi Ram experiment within the north,” Duraisamy instructed ThePrint.
Actor Vijay’s entry into politics seems to be destabilizing political events comparable to Seeman’s Naam Tamilal Katchi, with many observers saying that Vijay’s Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) might eat into NTK’s vote share, as surveys have additionally advised.
Nevertheless, political analysts are divided over whether or not Mr. Vijay can truly win the assist of the “different” voters who’ve supported Seeman’s NTK within the wake of a stampede at Mr. Vijay’s rally in Karur on September 27 that claimed 41 lives.
Arun Kumar, a professor and political analyst, stated Mr. Vijay’s get together had been gaining assist even after the Karur riots and it was inevitable that his get together would eat into NTK’s vote share.
“NTK’s vote share is prone to shift to Vijay’s TVK as their ideological positioning and messaging are considerably comparable. There’s a typical 10 per cent of voters who constantly vote for a substitute for the 2 Dravidian events, and this group might now choose Vijay over Seeman,” Arun Kumar instructed ThePrint.
Nevertheless, NTK’s youth wing coordinator Idumbavanam Karthi rejected the argument that Vijay might encroach on their stronghold. “We have now constructed a powerful base on the sales space stage and the cadres are ideologically politicized. Our staff have ideological readability and won’t succumb to the star gaze,” he instructed ThePrint.
TVK spokesperson A. Raj Mohan additionally dismissed solutions that Mr. Vijay’s get together was concentrating on NTK’s vote financial institution, telling ThePrint, “We aren’t trying on the vote share of any get together. We try to get individuals’s assist.”
Additionally learn: How Zeeman’s “autocratic” rule facilitated the exodus of NTK and why he stays unfazed by mass resignations
NTK social engineering
Forward of the 2026 parliamentary elections, the Seeman-led NTK has begun recalibrating its technique throughout the state. NTK officers stated the get together plans to area candidates from Mukkulathor and Yadava constituencies (OBCs) in Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi districts within the south, the place Dravidian events are primarily fielding candidates from Nadar constituencies (OBCs).
Equally, within the northern districts the place the Vanniyar neighborhood (OBC) is numerically dominant, the NTK is prone to area candidates from the Dalit neighborhood, sources instructed ThePrint.
“We imagine that the disaffected second-majority communities and different smaller communities within the area will probably be consolidated in opposition to numerically superior communities,” an NTK official instructed ThePrint.
Sources stated the get together can be planning to area Brahmin candidates in Chennai’s T Nagar, Mylapore, Saidapet and Birgambakkam constituencies.
“The neighborhood has lengthy been ignored by Dravidian events, however it’s gaining assist on the bottom. Though the neighborhood doesn’t have a numerical benefit, it might be seen as a caste-neutral candidate who doesn’t assist dominant communities within the constituency,” sources instructed ThePrint.
The get together can be stated to be reaching out to Telugu-speaking communities like Naidus, Nayakars and Reddys to counter the notion that NTK is an anti-Telugu get together. Seeman additionally plans to area tribal and Dalit candidates in some open constituencies, an indication of inclusivity, get together officers stated.
“No different political get together has such cross-community illustration. From Brahmins in Chennai to Dalits within the north to tribals within the basic voters, our management seems in any respect the Tamil communities and needs to make sure that everyone seems to be a part of the motion,” a senior get together official instructed ThePrint.
When requested concerning the get together’s social engineering and caste-based candidate choice, the get together’s youth wing coordinator Idombavanam Karthi stated seat allocation just isn’t based mostly on caste however on social illustration.
“We aren’t searching for votes within the identify of caste. We signify all communities in a selected area,” Karthi instructed ThePrint.
(Edited by Ajeet Tiwari)
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