K. Padmarajan Explained

K. Padmarajan is an Indian perennial candidate known for losing 238 elections. He is from the Indian town of Mettur, Tamil Nadu. The Limca Book of Records listed Padmarajan as the "most unsuccessful candidate" and the Guinness Book of World Records as the candidate with the most contested elections.^[1]

Career

Padmarajan is the owner of a tyre repair shop and is a self-described homoeopathic doctor.^[2]

Political career

Padmarajan started running for various local offices in 1988. Since then, he has lost all 238 elections that he has run in. He runs as an independent and encourages people to not vote for him.^[3] He uses his election failures as a way to inspire new generations to engage with the political process.^{[4] [5]}

Padmarajan has run in 6 presidential, 6 vice-presidential, 32 Lok Sabha, 50 Rajya Sabha, and 73 Parliamentary elections.^[6]

Notes and References

1. News: Meet 'serial loser' K Padmarajan, who has never won, yet features in Limca Book of Records . 8 April 2024 . Financialexpress . 4 April 2024 . en.
2. News: 'Election King' Padmarajan files nomination in Telangana despite 236 defeats in panchayat to president poll . 8 April 2024 . The Economic Times . 6 November 2023.
3. News: From 'Election King' to 'Dhartipakad': Meet the serial 'election losers' who refuse to quit . 8 April 2024 . The Economic Times . 4 April 2024.
4. News: He Has Lost 238 Times, But Will Contest Lok Sabha Polls Again . 8 April 2024 . NDTV.com.
5. News: India's biggest election loser ready to fight again . 8 April 2024 . Arab News . 28 March 2024 . en.
6. News: Sriram . Varsha . 'I Hope I Never Win': Why India's Biggest Election Loser Loves to Lose . 8 April 2024 . TheQuint . 3 April 2024 . en.