Rakesh. K

K. Rakesh, 40, is a postgraduate working as a competitive exam instructor who has entered electoral politics for the first time as the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) candidate from the Harur (SC) constituency in Dharmapuri district. With declared assets of approximately Rs. 20.19 lakhs (entirely movable assets with no immovable property) and liabilities of Rs. 10.21 lakhs, Rakesh represents a middle-class profile in a constituency traditionally contested between AIADMK and left-front parties. His candidacy is part of TVK's maiden electoral venture in the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, where the party founded by actor-turned-politician Vijay on February 2, 2024, has decided to contest all 234 seats without forming alliances. Rakesh faces an uphill battle in Harur (SC), a constituency won by AIADMK's V. Sampathkumar in both 2021 (with 50.46% votes) and the 2019 by-election. The 2021 election saw CPI(M)'s A. Kumar secure 34.99% as runner-up, indicating strong left presence. For 2026, the contest is crowded with DMK fielding A. Shanmugam, incumbent AIADMK MLA V. Sampathkumar seeking re-election, and NTK's Anitha Annadurai also in the fray. With no prior political or electoral track record available in public sources, Rakesh's campaign will likely depend heavily on TVK's parent brand and Vijay's star power rather than personal achievements. The TVK enters this election carrying both momentum and controversy. The party has promised an expansive welfare agenda including direct financial assistance to homemakers, unemployed graduates, senior citizens, 200 units of free electricity, free LPG cylinders, and AI-driven governance. However, the September 2025 crowd crush incident in Karur that killed 41 people and injured around 100 during a Vijay rally has cast a shadow, with police filing FIRs against TVK leadership for ignoring safety protocols. Vijay himself faced a Model Code of Conduct violation case during his campaign launch in March 2026. Voters in Harur should know that Rakesh represents a completely untested political entity with no governance track record. While his professional background as a competitive exam instructor suggests educational engagement, there is no documented evidence of prior community work, local activism, or development initiatives in the constituency. His candidacy is essentially a bet on TVK's anti-corruption messaging and Vijay's popularity translating into votes in a reserved constituency where AIADMK has maintained dominance and DMK-left alliances have historically been competitive.