Ragupathy.B

Ragupathy Bheeman, 48, is a doctorate-holding farmer contesting from Udhagamandalam (Ooty) constituency for Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) in the 2026 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly elections. He represents a party founded in 1958 and currently led by filmmaker-turned-politician Seeman, which has positioned itself as a Tamil nationalist alternative to the traditional Dravidian parties. NTK has grown significantly in recent years, becoming recognized as a state party by the Election Commission of India and emerging as the third-largest party in Tamil Nadu by vote share. The Udhagamandalam constituency, located in the Nilgiris district with 187,425 registered electors, has historically been a challenge for NTK. In the 2021 assembly elections, NTK candidate A. Jayakumar secured only 6,381 votes (4.57%), finishing far behind the Congress winner R. Ganesh. In 2016, NTK's candidate received just 748 votes (0.53%). Ragupathy's candidacy represents the party's continued effort to expand its footprint in this hill station constituency. While no specific controversies or achievements are documented for Ragupathy Bheeman personally, his party has faced scrutiny in recent years. In August 2024, an NTK district youth wing secretary was arrested in connection with a fake NCC camp where a 13-year-old girl was sexually assaulted. In August 2025, the Madras High Court had to direct police protection for theaters after NTK members, including party leader Seeman, protested against the film 'Kingdom' for allegedly misrepresenting the Tamil Eelam issue. The party has also drawn attention for its inclusive candidate selection, fielding Brahmins and other diverse candidates to counter traditional political stereotypes. Voters in Udhagamandalam should know that Ragupathy represents a party advocating for Tamil identity, social equality, and environmental protection, but one that has also been involved in recent controversies. With NTK's growing presence as an alternative voice in Tamil Nadu politics, his candidacy offers voters a choice beyond the traditional DMK-AIADMK-Congress-BJP framework, though the party's electoral performance in this constituency has historically been weak.