Balaji Ramachandran

Balaji Ramachandran, 36, is a postgraduate and self-employed professional contesting from Vilathikulam constituency in Tamil Nadu's 2026 Assembly elections on a Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) ticket. He previously contested from the same constituency in 2021, securing 11,828 votes (7.12% vote share) and finishing third behind DMK's winning candidate G.V. Markandayan. His electoral performance aligned with NTK's broader growth trajectory in Tamil Nadu, where the party has emerged as a Tamil nationalist alternative to traditional Dravidian parties. However, Ramachandran's candidacy is severely compromised by serious criminal allegations. In August 2024, he was arrested along with eight others in connection with organizing a fake National Cadet Corps (NCC) camp in Krishnagiri district held from August 5-9, 2024. Police reports indicate that Ramachandran, who served as the camp organizer and NTK district youth wing secretary, allegedly sexually assaulted a 13-year-old girl during a night shift and harassed at least four other teenage girls. An FIR was registered under IPC sections pertaining to sexual assault and criminal conspiracy, and he was remanded to judicial custody. Ramachandran's affidavit declares assets of Rs. 34.63 lakhs (movable: Rs. 21.63 lakhs, immovable: Rs. 13 lakhs) with liabilities of Rs. 3.29 lakhs, and reports zero criminal cases. The discrepancy between the affidavit's declaration of no criminal cases and the documented August 2024 arrest raises significant concerns. No specific development work, positive community initiatives, or achievements directly attributed to Ramachandran were found in available sources. Voters in Vilathikulam should be aware that while NTK has positioned itself as a growing political force advocating for Tamil nationalism, decentralized governance, and anti-corruption measures, Ramachandran faces grave allegations involving crimes against minors that fundamentally question his fitness for public office. The apparent non-disclosure of pending criminal cases in his election affidavit further compounds concerns about transparency and accountability.