All except DMK and Congress are in touch with me… both Dravidian parties are enemies of our ethnicity: NTK Chief Seeman
says he was invited to align with parties every election but chose an independent path. He also says
should decide on joining hands with him. "When ideology takes the lead, there is nothing wrong with cinema coming into it." Excerpts:
The Election Commission of India recently recognised NTK as a state party and assigned it a symbol.
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
Recognition for our efforts was overdue. It's a long journey driven by the dreams of our ancestors, fuelled by persistence. I spoke with my leader (late LTTE Chief Velupillai Prabhakaran) about the journey, and its true purpose emerged only after the war. If I am standing alone, it is because I am a person who has a principle that permanent victory should not be lost for temporary defeats; permanent defeat should not be accepted for temporary victories.
NTK is one of the few parties to receive recognition without cash for votes or in an alliance. Prior to this, it was Vijayakanth, and the reason for that was he was a famous actor. Getting 36 lakh votes is encouraging for NTK.
What's your strategy for the 2026 assembly election? Given the lack of financial strength, the only way to win is hard work. NTK has been discussing issues related to language and natural resources for 15 years.
The party's candidate selection includes a mix of demographics: Our 234 candidates will be the best; 117 women and 117 men, including 134 youths. Our strategy is to telecast our plan for governance. There is corruption, bribery, cash for votes, mis-governance, looting of resources, hooch tragedies, sexual offences, and illegal mining of resources.
Why contest alone after repeated electoral defeats? Why should I float my own party if the plan is to simply align with the established ones? I could have been in the
.
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
It negates the idea of being an alternative. I must carry my dream on my shoulders. If I leave it and trust you to go to Tirupathur, what will I do if you go to Tirupati? I aspire for increased job opportunities, environmental protection, and corruption eradication through a self-dependent economy. We sow the seeds. If we cannot harvest them, let another generation come and harvest them.
Your recent birthday wishes to AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami have sparked speculation about you softening your stance towards the party. DMK, AIADMK, BJP, and
are considered equal adversaries of NTK.
Both Dravidian parties are enemies of our ethnicity. The flag colours of the two parties might be different, but their policies and practices of liquor, bribery, corruption, and cash for votes remain. When it comes to BJP and Congress, one will demolish a mosque, and the other will allow it. One party will lay the foundation for a temple, and the other will extend wishes.
Did AIADMK approach you before reaching out to Vijay to explore an alliance? These attempts began when former chief minister J Jayalalithaa was alive.
She extended an invitation in 2016. Barring DMK and Congress, all parties are in touch with me. They call me every election, though I tell them I don't want to be bothered.
There were reports that you were working to unite the AIADMK groups. I discussed the split when V K Sasikala came out of jail. She said Palaniswami did not agree to the unification. Palaniswami's decision to align with BJP is not universally supported within AIADMK. An alliance with BJP will be beneficial in deciding who should rule India. What is the benefit in determining who should rule Tamil Nadu?
BJP state president Nainar Nagenthran has spoken about the party being keen on aligning.
Everyone before him talked to us. I cannot align with national or Dravidian parties. National parties will destroy the language and prioritise religion over humanity. There is a lack of differentiation between the policies of Congress and BJP, be it external affairs, security, or economy. Examples are NEET and GST. I met everyone and refused to align with them.
Your shift from admiring Periyar to criticising him is viewed by some as aligning with BJP's stance against Dravidian politics.
Do the views align because both of us speak Tamil and worship the same God, Murugan? They believe Periyar's ideology is against religion, while I view him as an "enemy of our own race". He spoke disparagingly of my mother tongue, saying it's a barbaric language. Tamil is the oldest language, and several languages were born out of Tamil.
Opponents credit Tamil Nadu's accomplishments to the Dravidian movement's social justice principles.
What does social justice have to do with them? Why are we seeking a caste-wise census? TN has significant resources, which Nobel laureate Amartya Sen noted could position it as a major economic force. Still, our mothers are left to ask for `1,000.
Vijay's approach combines Dravidam and Tamil nationalism, while NTK has an anti-Dravidam stance. He does not know how Dravidam and Tamil nationalism cannot become one. Tamil nationalism arose to combat the negative aspects of Dravidam.
His understanding is incomplete.
Is Vijay a threat to NTK? I don't see him as one. TN faces a dangerous phenomenon of 'screen charm', which is not as prevalent in other states. People are focused on entertainment and fun, hindering readiness for societal change. The state has been dealing with this for four decades from the days of M G Ramachandran. There will be consequences if it continues to overshadow good politics, leadership, and commitment to people.
You earlier said you may team up with Vijay. What happened? He should be the one to decide. When ideology takes the lead, there is nothing wrong with "cinema" coming into it. If someone who carries an ideology turns around and surrenders to "cinema," it won't work out. He accepts Periyar as a guiding force while we see Periyar as a historical enemy of our race. That is why it is difficult to join hands.
Has BJP approached Vijay? I am told they have.
Wouldn't the two of you make a powerful combo? Vijay can join me if he thinks my policies are beneficial. I don't need an alliance. I have announced candidates for more than 100 constituencies, and work is on for another 70 seats.
Is there a chance of seeing NTK, TVK, and AIADMK joining hands closer to the election? We cannot join hands with any party. Will others listen to me if I reflect on the words of our leader, Prabhakaran? I will put up a picture of the leader and have a tiger flag; will they align with me? My ideology differs from others.
I see confusion in the guidance given to Vijay. He should consider altering the underlying ideology or the person crafting it.
Isn't going against every party a disadvantage? Anura Kumara Dissanayake got only 3% of the votes initially, but now governs Sri Lanka with 53%. The BJP's victory in Tripura saw its vote share jump from 2% to 44%. My vote share increased from 1% to 5% and then to 8%. If former BJP President K Annamalai had not formed an alliance, I would have gained an additional 5%-6% of votes.
Wouldn't a split in anti-DMK votes benefit the DMK alliance? People vote for me because they believe it will benefit the state and people. I want to change the fundamental structure of politics, not displace DMK and install AIADMK, or the reverse.
Will anti-corruption be an important plank in 2026? Corruption will cease if someone honest like me assumes office. Can DMK, AIADMK, BJP, or Congress genuinely address corruption? The BJP received most of its funding through electoral bonds. Do DMK and AIADMK have the moral high ground to discuss the issue?
How do you view Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership? BJP has been in power for 12 years. What are the significant developments during this period? The Clean India initiative and promise to provide two crore jobs a year are empty statements. We waged a war, but why should we justify our actions to other countries? Former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, while in the USA, said one country shouldn't dictate another's defence policies.
That is an example of leadership.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
AAP and BJP blame each other for waterlogging and civic failures after heavy rain in delhi
New Delhi: It was just the day the Aam Aadmi Party and Congress were waiting for. The traffic chaos caused by the deluged roads on Saturday inspired htem to come out all guns blazing, alleging corruption in the desilting of drains. Demanding a high court-mandated, third-party audit of cleaning of drains, AAP said the flooded roads reflected a "complete collapse of civic preparedness" despite BJP's "four-engine" govt. Congress said Delhi govt's assurance that all steps had been taken to prevent waterlogging proved a sham with the residents waking up to clogged streets and intractable traffic jams. BJP, for its part, blamed the previous govt for the chaos and alleged it had done nothing to improve the city's drainage in its decade in office. AAP shared videos of flooded roads on social media platforms from early morning. "Raksha Bandhan is a day when sisters visit their brothers' homes, but since this morning, the city is waterlogged, with knee-deep water on the roads, vehicles breaking down, and massive traffic jams. The festival has been ruined," maintained AAP Delhi president Saurabh Bharadwaj said, adding that seven people even died in a wall collapse in southeast Delhi's Jaitpur. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Indonesia: Unsold Sofas at Bargain Prices (Prices May Surprise You) Sofas | Search Ads Search Now Undo "Neither CM nor PWD minister stepped onto the streets or attempted to help. In Badarpur, where people died, neither CM nor LG reached. They are relaxing while Delhi has been left at God's mercy," said Bharadwaj. Referring to the drowning of a two-and-half-year-old child in Khera Khurd. He claimed that sewer manholes near the residences of MPs were opened to drain the accumulated water on streets and warned CM Rekha Gupta that opening manholes to drain water was a dangerous shortcut. And with the Pragati Maidan tunnel flooded, Bharadwaj also questioned the outcome of the Rs 500 crore penalty imposed by LG on the contractor for shoddy construction on the transit corridor there. You Can Also Check: Delhi AQI | Weather in Delhi | Bank Holidays in Delhi | Public Holidays in Delhi Leader of opposition in Delhi Assembly Atishi posted videos on X showing heavy waterlogging in Palam, Dhaula Kuan and Saket. Delhi Congress president Devender Yadav visited flooded Karol Bagh and said, "CM Rekha Gupta promised a sanitation drive from Aug 1, but the rain brought out all the trash accumulated in the capital into public view. She claimed there would no longer be waterlogging, but I experienced the agony of getting caught in flooding on Saturday." Delhi BJP spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor countered that his party's govt had worked responsibly for the past five months. "When you raise questions about waterlogging just five months after being out of power, it's clear you're reminding Delhiites that in the past 10 years @ArvindKejriwal & Co did nothing to improve Delhi's drainage system. Delhiites have been enduring such waterlogging issues for the past 8-10 years and have continuously demanded a Drainage Master Plan—but your govt was too busy exploiting the @DelhiJalBoard," Kapoor said. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Raksha Bandhan wishes , messages and quotes !
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Congress workers hold agitation over delay in water supply from new overhead tank in Bopodi
1 2 Pune: Workers of the Congress city unit on Saturday held an agitation over the delay in commissioning water supply from the newly constructed overhead tank in the Bopodi-Aundh area. The tank can store over 3 lakh litres of water. Congress workers claimed the water tank was not being put to use despite the facility being ready. Vinod Ranpise, general secretary of the city unit of Congress, said the civic administration should start water supply from the tank at full capacity with immediate effect. You Can Also Check: Pune AQI | Weather in Pune | Bank Holidays in Pune | Public Holidays in Pune "Some local leaders from other political parties are trying to claim credit for the tank, but Congress workers followed up on the issue with the PMC to ensure its completion so that residents of Bopodi and Chikhlawadi receive a better supply of water," Ranpise claimed. Officials from Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), after Saturday's agitation, assured that water supply from the tank would begin soon. "The overhead tank at Bopodi is ready, and some work on pipelines is under way. The supply of water will start in phases," an official from the civic body's water supply department said. BJP taking credit for projects Meanwhile, Arvind Shinde, head of the Congress city unit, claimed the BJP has been claiming credit for various civic projects, although many of them were tabled or sanctioned during the Congress regime. "Flyovers on the city's key stretches are ready, but BJP workers are waiting for their leaders for the inauguration. The administration should open civic projects for citizens without delays. BJP's tactics will not help the party win the forthcoming civic polls. People are already fed up with their false promises," he said. Another Congress leader said, "The BJP has been in power in the PMC for five years with a clear majority. Despite a huge mandate, many crucial civic projects, including the construction of overhead water tanks, execution of the equitable water supply project, and river pollution abatement project, failed to gain pace. The metro project has moved to a slow track." Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Raksha Bandhan wishes , messages and quotes !
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Quit if you don't trust EC: BJP to Sonia, Rahul
NEW DELHI: BJP on Saturday stepped up pressure on Rahul Gandhi to back up his claim of vote fraud by emphasising that the Congress MP had not taken up EC's challenge to swear by his charges on an affidavit, and that he quit Lok Sabha on "moral grounds" if he does not have faith in the poll body. A day after Rahul skipped meeting Karnataka CEO and rejected the suggestion that he back up his allegation by submitting them in the required format, BJP's Gaurav Bhatia also sought resignations of MPs Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, besides CMs of Congress-governed states, if they did not have faith in polls.
