For ‘Election King’ Padmarajan, contesting elections is all about registering defeats and inking his name in the Limca and Guinness Books of Records. All set for his 174th electoral battle, the 57-year old will contest both against DMDK chief Vijaykant in Ulundurpet and sitting MLA Semmalai in his home constituency of Mettur this time.
“I want to be termed a failure with regard to elections. I embrace failure and even look forward to it. Contrary to popular belief, I lead a very carefree life because I know I have no chance of winning when there are 20 people -all fighting to win,” shares Padmarajan with The News Minute.
He confesses that his sole aim in life is to enter the Guinness Book of World Records for losing the maximum number of elections. Having contested elections since 1988, Padmarajan’s name first found a place in the Limca Book of Records in 2014 after he lost 145 elections on a trot.
A homeopath by profession, he is the only person to have opposed high-profile candidates like PM Narendra Modi in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, TN CM J Jayalalithaa, DMK chief Karunanidhi and even the likes of former Prime Ministers -Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Manmohan Singh and the late P. V. Narasimha Rao.
“When you have a vision, money shouldn’t matter. I have lost more than 20 lakhs of rupees in elections over the last 28 years. I save money solely for the purpose of elections,” he grins.
He is also the reason the Election Commission brought in an amendment to the law in 1996 henceforth restricting a candidate to contest in only two seats. This was after Padmarajan had once filed nominations to contest from five Lok Sabha constituencies and three assembly seats across states!
For someone who has been in the election-fray for almost three decades, Padmarajan has never hit the campaign trail even once. “I never ask anyone to vote for me, as I have taken an oath not to campaign. I do not want people to sympathize with me and cast their votes in my favour. That will just defeat the purpose of my mission,” declares this ‘serial loser.’