Dhavamani. R

Dhavamani R, a 34-year-old postgraduate, is contesting from the Arani constituency in Tamil Nadu's 2026 Assembly elections on a Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) ticket. Declaring her profession as housewife, she represents the party's commitment to fielding equal numbers of men and women candidates across all 234 constituencies. With assets totaling approximately Rs. 15.38 lakhs and liabilities of Rs. 15.47 lakhs, she presents a modest financial profile. She has no criminal cases declared in her affidavit. Dhavamani enters the electoral fray as part of NTK's independent contest in the 2026 elections, marking the party's fifth consecutive solo effort. NTK, founded in 1958 and currently led by filmmaker-politician Seeman, was recognized as a state party by the Election Commission in May 2025. The party has shown steady growth, increasing its vote share from 1.1% in 2016 to 6.72% in 2021, becoming Tamil Nadu's third largest party. In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, NTK's candidate in Arani secured 5.85% of votes, finishing fourth. NTK positions itself as an alternative to mainstream Dravidian parties, advocating for Tamil nationalism and criticizing DMK and AIADMK for allegedly diluting Tamil identity. The party's 2026 manifesto emphasizes decentralized governance, proposing multiple functional capitals across Tamil Nadu, along with anti-drug measures, agricultural support, water management, and climate resilience. However, the party has also courted controversy, notably facing legal challenges over protests against the film 'Kingdom', which led to the Madras High Court directing police protection for theaters. As a first-time candidate with limited public visibility, Dhavamani faces an uphill battle in Arani, where established parties traditionally dominate. Voters should note that while NTK's vote share has been growing, translating this into seat wins remains a challenge. Her candidacy reflects the party's gender parity commitment and offers voters an alternative to traditional Dravidian politics, though her individual track record and local connect remain unclear from available information.