Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK), under the leadership of Seeman, has made remarkable strides in the recent Lok Sabha elections, significantly increasing its vote share and positioning itself as a key player in Tamil Nadu’s political landscape. The party’s vote share has jumped from 3.85% in 2019 to approximately 8.2% this election, highlighting its growing influence among the electorate.The NTK’s performance is particularly impressive given its limited resources and lack of high-profile campaigners beyond Seeman. Despite these constraints, the party secured the third position in six constituencies: Erode, Kallakurichi, Kanyakumari, Nagapattinam, Tiruchy, and Puducherry. In five of these constituencies, the NTK outperformed the BJP-led alliance, and in Kanniyakumari, it surpassed the AIADMK.
One of the party’s most notable achievements was in Sivaganga, where NTK candidate Ezhilarasai garnered 1,63,412 votes, representing 15.5% of the total votes. Additionally, in 12 constituencies, the NTK received more than one lakh votes, further solidifying its growing base of support.
The NTK’s success is also notable considering the party contested the election with a new symbol after failing to secure its previous one from the Election Commission of India (ECI). Despite this challenge, the party’s vote share doubled in all 39 parliamentary constituencies, with the sole exception of Kanniyakumari.
“It is commendable. While many parties struggle to maintain their vote share, NTK has achieved significant growth. The party has secured a notable vote share without any prime ministerial candidate, star campaigners, or media support, relying solely on Seeman. Hence, NTK poses a significant threat to the Dravidian majors and national parties in the state in the upcoming elections”, say political observors.
The NTK’s rise underscores a shift in Tamil Nadu’s political dynamics, where traditional Dravidian parties and national parties have long dominated.