In a narrative that defies conventional political norms, K Padmaranjan, a 65-year old tyre repair shop owner from Salem, Tamil Nadu is no stranger to the hustle and bustle of elections. Popularly known as the “Election Kind”, Padmaranjan has carved a unique niche for himself in the political landscape. He has contested a staggering 238 elections across various levels of governance and not won any one of them.
Undeterred by unbroken streak of defeats, he is gearing up for his 239th attempt, contesting the upcoming Lok Sabha election form Dharmapuri constituency.
Padmarajan;s electoral journey began in 1988 and in past three decades he has relentlessly pursued public office, contesting everything from Panchayat election ot Presidential Polls, facing defeat in every turn. Padmaranjan exemplifies his own belief that participation in the democratic process is a fundamental right that transcends the pursuit of victory.
During his electoral journey he has contested against prominent figures such as Current Prime Minister Narendra Modi, former Prime Ministers Atal Bihari Vajpayee, P.V. Narsimha Rao, J.Jayalalithaa, even business tycoon Vijay Mallya. This philosophy has earned him recognition in the Limca Book of Records, Asia Book of Records, and Delhi Book of Records.
Reflecting on his extraordinary journey, Pdmarajan expressed his steadfast dedication to the democratic ethos, stating, “I don’t want to win, but only to lose, as you can taste victory for only a certain time, but you can bore loss forever.”.
Padmaranjan’s commitment to electoral participation is not limited to only getting listed, he has invested a substantial amount exceeding Rs 1 crore toward funding his electoral campaigns. These expenses were primarily funded by his tyre repair shop earnings. Even an incident of kidnapping in Andhra Pradesh in 1991, did little to dampen his spirit, he was contesting against Narasimha Rao. Notably, Padmaranjan most outstanding performance occurred in 2011, during the Mettur Assembly elections, where he collected 6,275 votes which is a win in itself in the pile of loses.
Despite facing consistent scepticism and being ridiculed , Padmarajan’s decision to contest elections underscores his unwavering belief in the power of ordinary individuals to effect change through political engagement. Some consider him a symbol of resilience, while others question the practicality of his endeavours.
Looking ahead, Padmaranjan has prepared himself to embark on his 239th electoral campaign from Dharmapuri, his story reminds us of how important democracy is and how people should never give up on its values. His consistent participation in elections is primarily driven by his commitment to raising awareness rather than seeking victory.
Regardless of the outcome of his latest electoral endeavour, Padmarajan’s legacy as the ‘Election King’ will continue to inspire generations to come, a journey of ordinary tyre repair shop owner to the ‘Election kind’ serves as a testament to the transformative power of civic engagement and whether he loses or wins, his dedication to exercise his right to stand for public office, endures spirit of democracy.
