T.N. Assembly election: NTK to announce all candidates for polls on February 21

Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) chief coordinator Seeman on Wednesday (February 18, 2026) said the party would introduce its candidates for all 234 Assembly constituencies at a conference scheduled to be held in Tiruchi on February 21.

Speaking to journalists after inspecting the arrangements for the party’s ‘Maatrathai Virumbum Makkal Maanaadu’ (conference of people seeking change) to be held at Alampattipudur near Tiruchi, Mr. Seeman said he would also contest the forthcoming Assembly election. Details of the candidates and constituencies would be announced at the event, after which the party election work will gather pace, he added.

He said the conference would differ from those of other parties, noting that the NTK would not release a conventional election manifesto but would instead outline the “methodology of governance” it proposes to follow.

Commenting on the State’s interim Budget, Mr. Seeman described it as a “deficit Budget” and criticised the government’s economic policies, alleging that Tamil Nadu’s growth was driven by borrowings. He reiterated that the party would not enter into alliances with other political parties.

Responding to remarks by senior Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar suggesting that Chief Minister M.K. Stalin take the lead in the INDIA bloc, Mr. Seeman acknowledged Mr. Stalin was the strongest leader in the alliance. According to him, without Mr. Stalin, the bloc would lack cohesion, as “other leaders were divided,” while Mr. Stalin had demonstrated electoral strength and accommodated allies, including the Congress, in previous elections.