Dhivya

Dhivya is a 28-year-old first-time candidate contesting from the Dharapuram (SC) constituency in Tamil Nadu's 2026 Legislative Assembly elections on a Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) ticket. A post-graduate who describes herself as 'Head of Household,' she has declared modest assets of approximately Rs. 5.31 lakhs with liabilities of Rs. 5.03 lakhs, and has no criminal cases registered against her. Her candidacy represents NTK's continued effort to expand its footprint in Tamil Nadu politics, particularly in reserved constituencies. Dhivya is contesting under the banner of Naam Tamilar Katchi, a Tamil nationalist party founded in 1958 and revived in 2010 by actor-turned-politician Seeman. The party positions itself as an alternative to the traditional Dravidian parties (DMK and AIADMK), focusing on Tamil identity, cultural rights, and regional autonomy. In the 2021 Assembly elections, NTK emerged as the third-largest party with 6.72% of the state-wide vote share, though in Dharapuram specifically, the party's candidate secured only 3.52% of votes. The constituency has historically been competitive between DMK and BJP, making it a challenging battleground for a first-time candidate from a smaller party. Dhivya's campaign appears to be closely tied to NTK's party machinery rather than a strong personal brand. No verified social media profiles or significant individual online presence have been identified, with her visibility primarily through party channels and local news coverage of her nomination filing. She faces competition from established candidates including DMK's Indirani, AIADMK's P. Sathyabama, and TVK's S. Gowri Chithra in the April 23, 2026 election. Voters should know that Dhivya represents a party that has been gaining ground among younger voters seeking alternatives to traditional politics, but she enters the race without prior electoral experience or a proven track record in governance. Her modest financial profile and clean criminal record align with her status as a political newcomer. The key question is whether NTK's growing state-wide momentum can translate into constituency-level success in Dharapuram, where the party has historically struggled to make significant inroads.