This 21-year-old student meme creator from Coimbatore is contesting the local body elections. Will he win?

S Nagarjun will be contesting for the Neelambur ward member seat and believes that the future of politics is with the youth of today. The 21-year-old is the youngest to contest in the election
S Nagarjun distributes his pamphlets to people during the election campaign
S Nagarjun distributes his pamphlets to people during the election campaign

On a day when most took to the streets to protest against CAA and NRC, S Nagarjun took his family and a few well-wishers and headed straight to the panchayat office with Rs 100 and his voter's ID. Why? The 21-year-old student and meme creator filed his nomination to contest the elections to be a ward member in Neelambur panchayat.

He tells us that he is the youngest candidate to contest in this election. "The eligibility for contesting as a ward member is 21 years. Fortunately, I could attempt it this time. I don't feel that there is anything new about it," he says humbly.

Explaining his interest in politics, he tells us that a movie he watched at the age of six marked the beginning of this dream. "I watched a Tamil movie called Iyarkkai. In a particular scene, they showed a picture of Fidel Castro. His image was imprinted in my head. I believe that was the spark of politics in me," explains the final year MA Journalism student of PSG College of Arts and Science, Coimbatore.

From then, he became 'hungry' to understand politics in its rawest form. "As a ten-year-old, I read many newspapers to understand the political scenario. My mom is a teacher, and she used to share a lot of the news with me. As my area is full of people following left-wing ideology, talking to them triggered the activist in me," shares Nagarjun.

S Nagarjun

Though his parents were not initially happy with him choosing politics at this tender age, they couldn't object as he was certain this is what he wanted to do. "Born in a middle-class family, my parents wanted me to get a job and have a monthly income. They believed that it would make our life secure. But according to me, I needed to start this early, so that I can prove to people that politics is not a bad word," he explains.

"Youngsters these days express their concern as memes on social media. They are courageous enough to express their views, and their strength is remarkable. But none of them voluntarily comes forward to lead the crowd. I came forward because I know that it is important, as we are the people of tomorrow. Even if I get defeated in this election, I might be an inspiration to someone who reads about me," he says with a smile.

Being a meme-creator himself, he skilfully made use of this idea in his campaigning process. "I made a four-page pamphlet which includes my agenda, newspaper clippings about local body elections and memes which conveyed the current scenario of politics. I contest from Ward Number 3 and people from nearby wards approached me for the pamphlet so that they could have a glance of it," he laughs. "Thus, I tried to attract people of all age groups through my pamphlets. I haven't promoted the memes online because I want people in my ward to see and learn from it. I don't believe in garnering likes as I am here to represent people," he adds.

Though he wants people to get to know him through his pamphlets, he has never alienated himself from 'tech' per se. "I am planning to build an app where my ward members can express their concerns and complaints. It can be streetlight issues, sanitation, water irregularities or even certificate issues," says the Computer Science graduate. "I can build it myself," he says idealistically.

He has been warmly welcomed by his ward members, and he is confident that they will encourage him. "My opponent is 31 years old. I have faced insults from all sides, but I was sure that I will not step back. I am fortunate to have many well-wishers, and their prayers are my strength," he says with a smile.

He doesn't stop there. "I had an aim to contest as Sarpanch of Neelambur, but this time it is reserved for the women folk. In 2024, I will try and contest from an MP seat in Coimbatore. In 2026, I will try to become the CM of Tamil Nadu and in 2029, the Prime Minister of India," he signs off.

Talk about idealism.

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