Keerthana S

Keerthana S, 30, is a first-time political candidate contesting from Sivakasi constituency on a Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) ticket in the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. A post-graduate working as a consultant, she has declared total assets of ₹22.57 lakh with liabilities of ₹12.75 lakh, with no criminal cases against her. She is one of 24 women candidates fielded by TVK, which was founded by actor-politician Vijay on February 2, 2024, and is contesting all 234 seats in its first major electoral contest. Keerthana faces a challenging political landscape in Sivakasi, competing against established parties including INC's A.M.S.G. Ashokan (who won in 2021), AIADMK's K.T. Rajenthra Bhalaji, and NTK's Diana. Her candidacy is part of TVK's broader strategy to position itself as a secular social justice alternative inspired by Periyar and Ambedkar, with an ambitious manifesto promising ₹2,500 monthly assistance for homemakers, ₹4,000 unemployment aid for graduates, free health check-ups, and 200 units of free electricity per household. However, Keerthana's debut campaign is overshadowed by the party's tragic Karur stampede in September 2025, where 41 people died during a TVK rally when crowds surged toward Vijay's delayed convoy. Police filed FIRs against TVK leadership including General Secretary N. Anand for culpable homicide and safety violations, and a CBI probe was initiated. The party has also been embroiled in political mudslinging, with Vijay accusing the DMK of Tasmac corruption while DMK ministers have countered with allegations of black money acceptance against TVK. Voters in Sivakasi should know that Keerthana represents an untested political entity making bold welfare promises but carrying the baggage of serious safety management failures and ongoing legal investigations. With no individual track record and minimal public profile separate from her party, her electoral prospects depend heavily on whether Vijay's star power and TVK's social justice messaging can overcome the controversies and break into a constituency historically dominated by Dravidian parties.