In a tale of a man’s undeterred spirit to contest polls, Tamil Nadu’s K. Padmarajan, popularly known as ‘Election King’ failed 238 times in his attempt to secure a seat. However, the 65-year old man remains unperturbed as he gears up to participate in the 2024 Lok Sabha Election.
The tyre repair shop owner began fighting elections in 1988 from his home town of Mettur, located in Tamil Nadu. This year, however, he will be contesting a parliamentary seat in Tamil Nadu’s Dharmapuri district.
When asked about his repeated participation in the polls over the years, Padmarajan said, “All candidates seek victory in elections, Not me.”
While adding that for him, the victory is in participating, he claimed that when his defeat inevitably comes, he is “happy losing”.
India’s ‘Election King’ has reportedly competed across the country in elections ranging from presidential to local polls.
“Victory is secondary,” he said. “Who is the opposite candidate? I do not care.”
Padmarajan’s main preoccupation now is extending his losing streak.
Over more than three decades of him contesting polls he claimed to have spent a huge amount of money in nomination fees.
For his recent tilt, he has paid a security deposit of Rs 25,000 which will not be refunded unless he wins more than 16 percent of the vote.
His one victory has been to earn a place as India’s most unsuccessful candidate in the Limca Book of Records, the country’s archive of records held by Indians.
In 2011, Padmarajan had his best performance, when he stood for the assembly elections in Mettur. He won 6,273 votes, as compared to more than 75,000 for the eventual victor.
“I did not even expect one vote,” he said. “But it showed that people are accepting me.”
Along with his tyre repair shop, Padmarajan also provides homoeopathic remedies and works as an editor for local media.
But among all his jobs, fighting elections was the most important, he said.
Lessons From Defeat
Padmarajan, who was once ridiculed is now asked to address students about resilience. He uses his campaigns to explain how to bounce back from defeat.
“I do not think of winning — failure is best,” he said. “If we are in that frame of mind, we do not get stressed.”
Talking about individual right and need to vote, Padmarajan said it was important, now more than ever, that every citizen of the country exercise their franchise.
“It is their right, they should cast their votes, in that respect there is no winning or losing,” he said.
The tyre shop owner from Tamil Nadu has claimed that he will continue to fight elections until his last breath, but would be shocked if he ever won.
“I will have a heart attack,” he laughed and said.
(with inputs from AFP)
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