Ramalingam. A

Ramalingam. A is a 76-year-old independent candidate contesting from the Panruti constituency in Tamil Nadu. With a 10th-grade education, he has worked as a Defence Research Technical Assistant B, indicating a career in India's defence research establishment. At his age, this appears to be a post-retirement political venture into electoral politics as an independent candidate without the backing of any major political party. His declared assets stand at approximately ₹1.15 crores, comprising ₹15 lakhs in movable assets and ₹1 crore in immovable assets, with no liabilities. These figures appear reasonable for someone who spent a career in government technical services. His affidavit shows no criminal cases or serious charges, presenting a clean legal record. Panruti has historically been a significant constituency in Tamil Nadu politics, previously represented by prominent leaders like Panruti S. Ramachandran who won six consecutive elections between 1967-1991 under different party banners. Contesting as an independent in a constituency dominated by Dravidian parties (DMK, AIADMK) and other regional forces presents significant challenges. Voters should note that as an independent candidate with no previous electoral history and limited public information available, Ramalingam faces an uphill battle against established party machinery. His technical background in defence research is unique among typical political candidates, but there is no available record of prior public service, community work, or political activism that would indicate his governance priorities or policy positions.