C. Rajendran

C. Rajendran is a 69-year-old Independent candidate contesting from Erode (West) constituency in Tamil Nadu. He declares his profession as agriculture and holds a postgraduate degree. His total assets stand at Rs. 91.50 lakhs (Rs. 11.50 lakhs movable and Rs. 80 lakhs immovable) with no declared liabilities, which appears reasonable for someone in agriculture with his education background. The most concerning aspect of Rajendran's candidacy is his criminal record. His affidavit declares 1 criminal case involving 3 serious IPC charges: kidnapping or abducting to murder (IPC 364), wrongful confinement of kidnapped person (IPC 368), attempt to murder (IPC 307), and criminal conspiracy (IPC 120B). These are grave charges related to violent crimes, though no information about the case status, year, or outcome is available in public records. No web searches yielded any details about these cases or any other controversies involving him. Rajendran has virtually no digital footprint or public presence. No social media profiles, public statements, interviews, past electoral history, development work, or community engagement activities could be traced online. This absence is unusual for a candidate, especially one of his age with postgraduate education. Erode (West) has historically been a battleground between DMK and AIADMK, with DMK's S. Muthusamy winning in 2021 with 49.49% votes. Independent candidates have historically fared poorly in this constituency, with past independents receiving less than 1% of votes. Voters should note that while Rajendran's financial declarations appear normal for his stated profession, the serious criminal charges involving kidnapping and attempted murder are significant concerns that require scrutiny. The complete absence of any public track record, political history, or community work makes it difficult to assess his capability or intentions as a public representative. Voters have a right to know more about the circumstances and current status of the criminal case before making an informed decision.