Boopathi. R.

Boopathi R., 50, is a postgraduate computer engineer contesting from the Palacode constituency in Dharmapuri district on a Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) ticket for the 2026 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly elections. With declared assets of approximately ₹6.96 crore (including ₹1 crore movable and ₹5.96 crore immovable assets) and zero liabilities or criminal cases, Boopathi represents the professional middle-class profile that NTK has increasingly attracted. However, specific information about his personal political career, development work, or community activities remains largely undocumented in public sources. Boopathi is contesting from a constituency where NTK faces an uphill battle. In the 2021 Assembly elections, Palacode was won by K. P. Anbalagan from AIADMK with 53.63% of votes, while NTK's candidate G. Kalaiselvi managed only 3.75%. However, the party's overall trajectory in Tamil Nadu has been impressive—from 1.1% vote share in 2016 to 6.72% in 2021 and 8.19% in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, making it the third largest political force in the state and qualifying it for state-recognized party status. The Naam Tamilar Katchi, founded in 1958 and currently led by filmmaker-turned-politician Seeman, advocates for Tamil nationalism, regional autonomy, and social justice. The party has maintained its independence, typically contesting elections without aligning with major Dravidian parties. For the 2026 elections, NTK has announced its commitment to decentralization, social welfare programs, anti-drug measures, and Tamil-centric policies. Boopathi, as the party's Palacode candidate, will need to convert the party's growing statewide momentum into local votes in a constituency where traditional parties have dominated. Voters should note the absence of publicly available information about his specific track record in public service, local development work, or community engagement prior to this candidacy.