D. Ramu

D. Ramu is a 33-year-old auto driver contesting as an independent candidate from the Katpadi Assembly constituency in Tamil Nadu's 2026 elections. With declared assets of approximately Rs. 14.79 lakhs (including Rs. 10.79 lakhs in movable assets and Rs. 4 lakhs in immovable assets) and liabilities of Rs. 3.80 lakhs, his financial profile is consistent with his declared profession. He has no criminal cases registered against him according to his affidavit. Ramu is entering a highly competitive electoral battle in Katpadi, a constituency that has been dominated by DMK's Durai Murugan, who has won continuously since 1996 and is seeking his 11th consecutive term. The constituency, located in Vellore district with over 225,809 registered voters, is considered semi-urban and historically witnesses contests primarily between DMK and AIADMK. In the 2021 election, the margin of victory was just 746 votes, indicating how competitive this seat can be. However, independent candidates face significant structural challenges in Tamil Nadu politics. No independent candidate has won a Tamil Nadu Assembly election since 2006, when T. Ramachandran won from the Thalli constituency. Historical data from Katpadi shows that independent candidates have consistently secured less than 2% of votes in past elections. With major parties like DMK, AIADMK, and emerging forces like TVK and NTK fielding candidates, Ramu faces an uphill battle. Voters should know that while Ramu presents himself as a grassroots alternative representing the auto driver community, there is virtually no media coverage, public campaign visibility, or social media presence associated with his candidacy. His chances of making an electoral impact appear limited given the dominance of established political parties in the constituency and the historical performance of independent candidates in Tamil Nadu.