M. Raju

M. Raju (also identified as K.M. Raju in election records) is a 60-year-old DMK candidate contesting from the Coonoor constituency in the 2026 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly elections. A 12th pass educated individual, he declares his profession as Agricultural & Business, with total assets of approximately Rs. 2.92 crore (movable assets of Rs. 1.33 crore and immovable assets of Rs. 1.59 crore), along with liabilities of Rs. 48.17 lakh. His affidavit shows no criminal cases, presenting a clean legal record. Coonoor has been a politically competitive constituency in the Nilgiris district, alternating between DMK and AIADMK control over the years. In 2021, DMK's K. Ramachandran won with 61,820 votes (45.89%) against AIADMK's Vinoth D., while in 2016, AIADMK's A. Ramu secured victory. The constituency has seen DMK victories in 2021, 2011, 2006, and 1989, demonstrating the party's historical presence in the area. The region's political dynamics are influenced by its significant Badaga tribal population, which has sometimes led to internal party tensions over candidate selection and representation. Despite being a DMK candidate from a constituency with notable political history, Raju maintains a low public profile with limited social media presence or media coverage. No specific achievements, development initiatives, or controversies have been documented in available records. The broader DMK government has faced criticism over issues like the Madurai property tax scam and custodial deaths, though none of these controversies directly involve Raju. Voters in Coonoor should note that while Raju presents as a candidate with clean legal records and reasonable asset declarations for someone in agriculture and business, there is minimal public information available about his specific contributions, political experience, or track record in public service. This lack of documented achievements or public engagement may be a consideration for voters seeking demonstrated leadership and accountability.