Suganthi

Suganthi Parthiban, 53, is a graduate and businesswoman contesting from Krishnagiri constituency as the Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) candidate in the 2026 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly elections. She represents a Tamil nationalist party founded by filmmaker-turned-politician Seeman in 2010, which has positioned itself as an alternative to mainstream Dravidian parties DMK and AIADMK. With declared assets of Rs. 1.18 crores and liabilities of Rs. 75.80 lakhs, she has a clean criminal record with no cases declared in her affidavit. NTK has shown significant electoral growth, improving from just 1.1% vote share in 2016 to 6.72% in the 2021 assembly elections, becoming the third-largest party in Tamil Nadu. The party advocates for Tamil nationalism, environmental conservation, and institutional reforms, with its 2026 manifesto proposing decentralization through five functional capitals, free education from primary to PhD level, alcohol prohibition, and enhanced agricultural policies. For the 2026 elections, NTK is contesting independently across all 234 constituencies without forming alliances, seeking to capitalize on growing support among younger voters and those disillusioned with traditional politics. In Krishnagiri, a constituency with approximately 265,037 registered voters, Suganthi faces established opponents from AIADMK, INC, and TVK in a historically DMK-AIADMK dominated area. During campaigning, NTK chief Seeman has criticized what he calls 'competitive populism' and made controversial statements about migration and Tamil identity. While no controversies directly involve Suganthi herself, the party's local organization faced negative attention in August 2024 when its district youth wing secretary was arrested in connection with a sexual assault case during a fake NCC camp. Voters in Krishnagiri should know that Suganthi represents a relatively new political force emphasizing regional identity and governance reforms, but with limited track record in legislative experience or development work. Her candidacy offers an alternative to traditional parties, though NTK's confrontational rhetoric and the party's mixed local reputation present considerations for voters evaluating her candidacy.