Karuppaiya. R

Dr. R. Karuppaiya is a 60-year-old medical doctor and politician from Karur district, Tamil Nadu, representing the Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK). With a post-graduate degree and assets worth Rs. 8.2 crore, he has established himself as both a medical professional and a political figure aligned with Tamil nationalist ideology. His political career shows consistent loyalty to NTK without any party switches, though his electoral performance has been modest, reflecting the party's emerging status in Tamil Nadu politics. Karuppaiya contested the 2021 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election from Karur constituency, securing 7,316 votes (3.55%) and finishing far behind DMK's V. Senthil Balaji. He showed improvement in the 2024 Lok Sabha election from Karur, garnering 87,503 votes (7.73%) but still losing to INC's S. Jothimani. This growth trajectory mirrors NTK's broader expansion as it positions itself as an alternative to traditional Dravidian parties, particularly attracting younger voters. The party announced him again as their candidate for the 2026 Assembly elections, indicating continued confidence in his representation of Karur. However, his association with NTK comes with considerable controversy. The party's leader Seeman was booked by Karur police in August 2024 for making defamatory remarks with caste-based slurs against former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi during a public event. NTK has also been involved in disruptive protests against films like 'Kingdom,' leading to theater attacks and Madras High Court interventions. The party has faced sedition charges for what authorities termed 'anti-national remarks.' Karuppaiya himself has one pending criminal case under Section 341 IPC (wrongful restraint), though it's not classified as serious. Voters in Karur should know that while Dr. Karuppaiya represents an alternative political voice with Tamil nationalist credentials, there is limited documentation of specific development work or constituency service attributed to him. His political identity is largely tied to NTK's broader agenda rather than individual initiatives. The party's controversial approach—marked by inflammatory rhetoric and confrontational tactics—may appeal to those seeking alternatives to established parties, but concerns remain about its governance capabilities and tendency toward disruptive politics over constructive solutions.