News Tamil Nadu

“If He Seeks Vote, Even The Brahmins In His Street Won’t Vote For You,” NTK Chief Seeman Roasts DMK And S Ve Shekher In One Go

January 25, 2025
The Commune

Amid Chief Minister MK Stalin’s recent announcement on 20 January 2025, to name a street in Mylapore after actor S Ve Shekher’s father, SV Venkataraman, Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) leader Seeman has criticized the DMK’s strategy of relying on S Ve Shekher to secure Brahmin community votes. He mocked the move, questioning why, with so many Tamil scholars from the Brahmin community who have contributed greatly to preserving Tamil literature, there is a need to honor S Ve Shekher’s father. Seeman further ridiculed the decision, sarcastically remarking, “If he asks for votes, even the Brahmins in his street won’t vote for you.“

NTK leader Seeman’s criticism comes from Chief Minister MK Stalin’s remarks at an event celebrating the 7,000th performance by S Ve Shekher’s theatre group, ‘Natakapriya.’ At the event, Stalin announced that a proposal to name a street in Mylapore after Shekher’s father, SV Venkataraman, would be introduced at an upcoming Greater Chennai Corporation council meeting. Stalin praised Shekher’s dedication to theatre and his long-standing ties with former Chief Minister M Karunanidhi.

Stalin also remarked that after watching some scenes from Shekher’s drama, it felt like “Shekher alone is enough to secure the DMK’s victory in the 2026 Assembly elections.” He promised to honor Shekher’s request, while also hinting at a request of his own. However, the Chief Minister did not specify what that request was. Later, Shekher told reporters that he would campaign for the DMK in the 2026 elections if Stalin established a Brahmin Welfare Board to support underprivileged Brahmins.

The NTK leader took aim at Stalin’s announcement, suggesting that the move was more about political gain than a genuine concern for the Tamil community. Seeman criticized the DMK for using Shekher as a tool to secure Brahmin votes, while many Tamil Brahmin scholars who have contributed to Tamil literature have been overlooked.

Speaking at a press meeting in Coimbatore, Seeman sharply criticized the decision, saying, “What are you talking about? After being slammed, they are now circling behind S Ve Shekher. Why name a street after S Ve Shekher’s father? Why not honor (someone like) our Tamil grandfather U. V. Swaminatha Iyer, who preserved and documented Tamil literature? Or Pure Tamil Movemnet (leader) Maraimalai Adigal’s guru, the great Parithimar Kalaignar, who changed his name from Suryanarayana Sastri—why not name it after him? Why can’t you name it after our great-grandfather Bharathiyar, who revolutionized Tamil literature. Why S Ve Shekher’s dad? What did you say— ‘I have fulfilled your request, now you must fulfill mine’? Is this all just about seeking votes in the election? If he asks for votes, even the Brahmins in his street won’t vote for you.”

Seeman further mocked, “What kind of intelligence do you have? First, change the officials with good ones and provide a better survey.”

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