Aysha

Ayisha Begum (also referred to as Aysha in affidavit documents) is a 37-year-old businesswoman and first-time candidate from Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) contesting the Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni constituency in Chennai for the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. She operates M/S Fortune International as her declared profession. The constituency, with approximately 234,067 voters, represents one of Chennai's most densely populated urban areas and has historically been a DMK stronghold. Ayisha faces a four-cornered contest against high-profile candidates including incumbent Chief Minister's son Udhayanidhi Stalin (DMK), Adhi Rajaram (AIADMK), and D. Selvam (TVK). Her party NTK, founded by actor-turned-politician Seeman, has experienced significant growth, increasing its state-wide vote share from 1.1% in 2016 to 6.72% in 2021, making it Tamil Nadu's third-largest party. In the 2021 elections, the NTK candidate in this constituency received 9,193 votes (6.79% of total votes), finishing behind the major Dravidian parties. As an NTK candidate, Ayisha represents a party known for its Tamil nationalist positioning and appeal among younger voters disillusioned with traditional politics. The party's 2026 manifesto emphasizes decentralized governance with multiple functional capitals, agricultural support policies, women's representation through reserved constituencies, and strong anti-drug measures. However, NTK has also faced criticism for its controversial rhetoric, particularly party leader Seeman's praise for LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran and allegations of exploiting ethnic tensions. Recently, the party's protests against the Telugu film 'Kingdom' required Madras High Court intervention to protect theaters. Voters should note that Ayisha Begum maintains minimal individual public profile, with limited social media presence or independent media coverage. Her candidacy appears to be part of NTK's broader strategy to field diverse candidates across demographics while centralizing messaging around party leadership. Her business background and lack of prior electoral experience distinguish her from the seasoned politicians she faces in this high-stakes urban constituency.