Gunaseela. M

Gunaseela is a 39-year-old postgraduate politician representing Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) in Salem North constituency. She emerged as a formidable challenger in the 2021 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, securing 85,844 votes (42.42%) and finishing just 7,588 votes behind DMK incumbent R. Rajendran. This performance reflected NTK's broader surge to 6.72% statewide vote share, establishing it as Tamil Nadu's third-largest party after the Dravidian majors. Her party, founded in 2010 by filmmaker-turned-politician Seeman, advocates Tamil nationalism, social justice, and refuses alliances with mainstream parties. NTK has consistently rejected what Seeman calls 'freebie politics' while positioning itself as an alternative to DMK, AIADMK, and BJP. The party notably fields 50% women candidates and emphasizes caste equality, environmental protection, and Tamil identity. However, it has faced controversies over Seeman's praise for LTTE leader Prabhakaran and protests against cultural representations perceived as anti-Tamil. Gunaseela's affidavit shows total assets of Rs. 90.04 lakhs against liabilities exceeding Rs. 1.01 crore, creating a net negative financial position. She declares her profession as 'Sweet Stall' owner, though no public record of this business exists in political coverage. Despite her strong 2021 electoral performance, she maintains minimal individual public visibility with no identifiable social media presence or personal interviews. Voters should know that Gunaseela represents a growing third-party movement in Tamil Nadu politics that came within striking distance of victory in 2021. Her re-contest in 2026 faces DMK incumbent Rajendran, PMK's S. Sadhasivam, and newcomer TVK's K. Sivakumar in a multi-cornered fight. Her political future depends on whether NTK can convert its Tamil nationalist appeal into electoral wins, having never secured a legislative seat despite increasing vote shares across three election cycles (1.06% in 2016, 3.89% in 2019 Lok Sabha, 6.72% in 2021 Assembly).