Despite Seeman attending right wing outfit’s event, NTK leaders rule out NDA tie-up

Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) chief co-ordinator Seeman’s recent participation at an event organised by Vigil, considered to be a right wing organisation, resulted in speculation about the party possibly testing the waters to join the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). However, sources close to the NTK leader ruled out such a possibility.

Packiarasan Sethuramalingam, a close party aide of Mr. Seeman and spokesperson, said his participation in the programme, does not mean the party would join the NDA. “There is a zero per cent chance of the NTK joining an alliance. It is true we want to send our representatives into the Assembly, but it needs to be only on our own terms. We don’t want to compromise on our message,” he told The Hindu.

While Mr. Seeman was critical of the BJP and the Sangh Parivar in the Thirupparakundram Deepathoon issue, at the meeting he said national poet Subramania Bharati was rejected [on account of his Brahmin roots], and this was akin to rejecting the Tamil language itself. He sought to contrast Bharati with Dravidar Kazhagam founder Periyar E.V. Ramasamy, who emerged on the scene a good decade-and-a-half after the former’s demise.

“He [Bharati] has spoken about everything: women’s rights and progressive ideas. But, society hasn’t given him his due. When I become the Chief Minister, there will be no education in schools without Bharati. I have an intense liking towards Bharati. It is my duty to take his fame all over the world. I will speak about Bharati even in Pakistan,” he said, adding, “Tamils should learn to appreciate Bharati…it is akin to celebrating our Tamil.”

Further bolstering his point on why the NTK would never join the NDA, Mr. Packiarasan said: “We have already announced candidates for over 120 constituencies. This time around, we are planning to field six Brahmin candidates in Chennai and Mayiladuthurai, and we intend to include other communities which feel sidelined in politics.”

Another office-bearer said there was no need to read too much into Mr. Seeman’s participation in the event.