About 2,000 Naam Tamizhar Katchi leaders and staff be part of DMK

Seeman’s sudden provocative statements earlier this month about Dravidian motion founder EV Ramasamy (revered by all significantly Tamil Nadu-based events as Periyar) led to dissent inside his personal celebration – a purpose they mentioned was within the determination to go away NTK and be part of the DMK.

Noting that NTK was additionally shaped with the ideologies of Periyar, Stalin mentioned that Seeman was being dramatic with inflammatory speeches. “The extra you get offended and create drama with out a political agenda, extra cadres out of your celebration are becoming a member of us,” Stalin mentioned to Seeman and BJP.

Nonetheless, Seeman’s remarks on January 9 that Periyar inspired incestuous relationships drew rapid help from the BJP and the fitting wing’s proponent S Gurumurthy. Concurrently, protests by Periyar’s followers spurred throughout the state and greater than 70 circumstances had been registered towards Seeman in varied elements of the state towards his speech.

Seeman’s assembly in November final 12 months with actor Rajinikanth (who was meant to enter the political enviornment with the BJP’s help) additionally led to dissent inside his personal celebration.

“Periyar stays the core political and philosophical barricade that BJP is unable to interrupt down and current a substitute for the century outdated political discourse in Tamil society and politics,” says political analyst Ramu Manivannan. “So even the BJP discovered a typical trigger with Seeman who’s determined to ring a bell with the electorates in Tamil Nadu together with his streak of Tamil nationalism rooted in parochial, chauvinist and separatist politics.”

Within the final two weeks, 5 district secretaries and in-charge of the Krishnagiri zone have resigned from the NTK. Ramachandran, NTK’s former district secretary of Coimbatore (North), joined the DMK earlier this month. Based on individuals accustomed to the matter, NTK cadre may additionally migrate to actor Vijay’s Tamizhaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK), which was shaped final 12 months, whilst Seeman overtly welcomed Vijay to type an alliance with him however acquired no response. “A bit of Seeman’s voter base is more likely to go to Vijay,” says political analyst Maalan Narayanan.

“We’ve got been receiving feelers from BJP to affix fingers with them,” mentioned an NTK chief who didn’t want to be named. “We’ve got not reciprocated to this point.”

When requested the BJP in regards to the help for Seeman, a senior chief who didn’t want to be quoted, mentioned that the nationwide celebration was open to an alliance with anybody who goals for nationwide curiosity and needs to defeat the DMK. “However, Seeman doesn’t have nationwide curiosity. He isn’t for Hindutva,” the BJP chief mentioned. “Even when he doesn’t instantly advocate Hindutva and Sanathana Dharma, he mustn’t communicate towards it. Then we’ll take into account aligning with him. For the time being, now we have solely supported his feedback towards Periyar.”

Seeman began his celebration with a purpose of an impartial statehood for Lankan Tamils, a 12 months after the LTTE was defeated within the Sri Lankan warfare in 2009. A passionate and polarising orator, Seeman has refused to tie up with any celebration as a result of he fights on the plank of anti-corruption in addition to Tamil rights. He has dismissed Dravidian events, espoused a militant Tamil majoritarian and linguistic delight. Their place has been {that a} Tamilian ought to rule Tamil Nadu. NTK, posing as a substitute for Dravidian events, got here in because the third largest celebration with 6.7% vote share within the 2021 meeting elections and registered a 8% vote share within the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Whereas addressing those that acquired inducted into the DMK on Friday, Stalin mentioned that his celebration wouldn’t be deterred by criticism of the Dravidian ideology and would proceed to advocate his Dravidian mannequin of governance. He mentioned that so long as such criticism continued the DMK would proceed to develop. He additionally identified the same state of affairs with governor RN Ravi who has been important of the DMK.

“Some individuals demand the withdrawal of governor Ravi. However now we have not handed such a decision within the meeting. He needs to be the governor and the DMK will develop additional,” Stalin mentioned. “Subsequent 12 months too, governor Ravi ought to come to the meeting and depart with out studying the customary handle and other people should see that.” He additionally mocked that those that have launched model new events are dreaming of ruling Tamil Nadu, with out referring to actor Vijay.