S.Shankar

S. Shankar is a 53-year-old advocate and social activist representing the Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) in Chennai's Anna Nagar constituency. As a graduate professional with declared assets of ₹74.58 lakh and no criminal cases, he embodies the party's attempt to field clean candidates in urban constituencies. His political journey is tied to the NTK's rise under Seeman's leadership, advocating for Tamil nationalism and challenging the established DMK-AIADMK duopoly in Tamil Nadu politics. In the 2021 Assembly elections, Shankar secured 10,406 votes (6.36% vote share), finishing fourth behind DMK's M.K. Mohan who won with 80,054 votes. While his individual performance was modest, it reflected the NTK's broader growth trajectory - the party increased its statewide vote share from 1.1% in 2016 to 6.72% in 2021, establishing itself as Tamil Nadu's third-largest political force. The party's consistent independent stance, refusing alliances to maintain ideological purity, appeals to voters disillusioned with traditional Dravidian politics. Shankar's candidacy in Anna Nagar, a prominent Chennai constituency, demonstrates NTK's urban expansion strategy. The party's 2026 manifesto focuses on decentralized governance, social welfare, and Tamil identity preservation. However, Shankar faces the challenge of converting party growth into personal electoral success in a constituency where he previously trailed significantly behind established parties. Voters should know that Shankar represents an ideologically driven alternative to mainstream politics, backed by a party that has shown consistent growth but limited electoral victories. His clean legal record and professional background align with NTK's image, though his ability to translate party momentum into constituency-level success remains to be proven.