The emergence of a third force in any state of India has been a long drawn out process as dethroning the entrenched leadership under the two-party regime is a herculean task. Following the plank of Tamilism, former actor-director Seeman’s Naam Tamilar Katchi party has swelled its numbers in Tamil Nadu, reaching the third position in many constituencies. This party owes its success to Seeman’s vision, party leadership’s clarity, hard work of party ranks and ideological support of the Tamil Diaspora to keep the Tamil spirit alive after the 2009 military defeat in Sri Lanka. WSN presents this analysis by ace journalist Dharshan Rajakobal.

Fielding candidates on the basis of their commitment and earthy background rather than their popularity in cinema and being the only political party in India to have a 50 percent reservation for women by nominating 20 men and 20 women for the 40 parliamentary seats of Tamil Nadu, party leader Seeman and his Naam Tamilar Party have dented the DMK-AIADMK stranglehold and have emerged a force to reckon with.

Naam Tamilar -We the Tamils, was born to uphold Tamil identity soon after the 2009 genocide of native Tamils in Sri Lanka. Taking up the task of rejuvenating the Tamil spirit to fight back in the face of death and destruction, Seeman with his band of dedicated activists toured the length and breadth of Tamil Nadu. Rekindling the aspiration for Tamil nationalism, Seeman went to every street corner, talked and inspired people to uphold the uniqueness of Tamil language, arts and culture.

NTK is committed to the sovereignty of the state, its language, its culture and the rights of the state – the building of a dispensation which protects the rights of all sections of the Tamil people.

Though sceptical at the outset, as people saw Seeman and his party’s presence at protest demonstrations and political rallies for causes dear to the people, the scenario changed.  Naam Tamilar Party which contested its first parliamentary polls in 2014, secured barely 4 lakh votes across the state. Now in 2019, they have polled 16 lakhs plus votes, a four-time increase and an indicator of the times to come.

The Naam Tamilar Party is working on the idea of Tamil Desiyam, a concept earlier rubbished as incomprehensive and unachievable and was even dubbed as divisive. The people of Tamil Nadu, especially the poorest of the poor easily seem to have accepted the idea.

In every election, money plays a big part in Tamil Nadu politics. Even this year, huge chunks of money were confiscated by the Election Commission of India, so much so that the only constituency in the whole of India, where elections were cancelled was Vellore in Tamil Nadu, where a huge cache of unaccounted cash, considered to meant for buying votes was held.

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This money game in elections makes it expensive and ultimately fuels corruption in public life.  The Naam Tamilar Katchi has already set a new trend by contesting without much fanfare and following a man to man peoples’ outreach campaign methodology.

In Tamil Nadu, there were two huge alliances -one AIADMK and BJP  and another  DMK and Congress. While the major state political parties contested this election with alliances, Naam Tamilar party contested singularly with faith in the party ideology.

As happens with those moving against the wind, Naam Tamilar faced a media blockade too. Yet they managed to get a 5 per cent share of the votes polled.

As the youth rallies around Seeman and Naam Tamilar Katchi grows from strength to strength, a new chapter of Tamil nationalism history is being written. Tamils are proudly upholding their distinct identity

Dharshan Rajakobal is a Journalist, Documentary filmmaker, Writer, Social Activist, Political Analyst and Geneva Correspondent for Human Rights Conventions of the United Nations.