Who Is The ‘Election King’ : Lost Lok Sabha Elections 238 Times And Still Determined To Participate.

Popularly known as the “Election King,” Padmarajan has participated in a wide array of elections across the country, spanning from presidential to local polls. Among his adversaries, he has faced notable figures such as PM Modi, Vajpayee, Dr. Singh, and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.

“For me, it’s about being involved,” he remarked. “Winning isn’t my primary concern. I don’t even bother about who my opponent is.”

Currently, Padmarajan’s main focus is on extending his string of defeats. He aspires to secure a place as India’s most unsuccessful candidate in the Limca Book of Records, which archives notable Indian achievements.

However, his electoral pursuits haven’t been without expenses—he estimates spending thousands of rupees on nomination fees over more than three decades. This includes a security deposit of Rs 25,000 for his latest attempt, which will only be refunded if he manages to garner more than 16 percent of the vote.

Padmarajan’s most noteworthy performance was in 2011 when he contested the Assembly elections in Mettur. Despite securing only 6,273 votes compared to the eventual winner’s over 75,000, he found solace in the fact that people showed acceptance towards him.

In addition to running his tire repair shop, Padmarajan also provides homeopathic remedies and works as an editor for local media. However, he considers his involvement in elections as his most significant undertaking.

“For me, failure holds more value,” he explained. “I keep meticulous records of my nomination papers and identity cards from each unsuccessful bid, all carefully laminated for safekeeping. Each document bears the various campaign symbols I’ve used over time, including a fish, ring, hat, telephone, and now, tires.”