Hari Raaj. B

Hari Raaj B is a 26-year-old advocate contesting as an Independent candidate from Karur constituency in Tamil Nadu. As a graduate professional with declared assets of ₹17.63 lakh (entirely movable, with no immovable property), he represents a young, first-time entrant into electoral politics. His candidacy comes in a constituency where Independents have historically struggled—in the 2021 Assembly elections, Independent candidates like P. Ravi received just 0.18% of votes while DMK's V. Senthil Balaji won with nearly half the vote share. What makes Hari Raaj's candidacy unusual is the complete absence of any prior public profile, social media presence, or political activity that typically precedes even first-time candidates. No news articles, social media accounts, interviews, or organizational affiliations could be found in web searches. This suggests either a very recent decision to enter politics or a genuinely grassroots campaign without established networks. At 26, he would be among the youngest candidates in the race, potentially appealing to youth voters in a state where major parties dominate. Karur has been a competitive constituency with strong Dravidian party presence. In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections from Karur, Congress's S. Jothimani won with 47.25% of votes. The upcoming 2026 Assembly elections will feature heavyweights like R. Thyagarajan (DMK) and M. R. Vijayabhaskar (AIADMK). For Hari Raaj, the challenge will be establishing credibility and visibility in a crowded field dominated by established party machinery. Voters should note that while his clean criminal record and reasonable financial declaration are positives, the complete lack of track record, public statements, or community work makes it difficult to assess his political ideology, policy priorities, or capability to represent the constituency. His status as an advocate suggests legal knowledge that could be valuable in legislative work, but without any documented professional achievements or social service, voters have limited information to make an informed choice.