In the realm of Indore, Madhya Pradesh, arises a tale of resilience and unyielding spirit. “Not every encounter aims at triumph. Some echo the resilience of a soul, declaring its presence amidst the battlefield,” as articulated by the venerable Ravish Kumar.
This narrative finds resonance in the journey of an autonomous contender hailing from Indore, persisting in his quest for victory over a span of 35 years, tasting defeat in 18 electoral bouts.
Yet, his resolve remains unwavering as he gears up for his 19th endeavor, poised to wage a formidable campaign against his adversaries in the forthcoming Lok Sabha Election 2024, set to unfold on April 19.
Despite encountering defeat in all preceding 18 electoral skirmishes, Parmanand Tolani, fondly known as the “Dhartipakad” of Indore, remains undeterred, steadfast in his resolve to contest independently until triumph is secured.
Since his maiden foray into the electoral arena in the Lok Sabha election of 1989, Tolani, a real estate magnate by trade, has remained steadfast in his status as an autonomous contender. Amongst his initial contenders stood Sumitra Mahajan, erstwhile Speaker of the Lok Sabha. Over the years, he has vied for positions ranging from mayor to Member of Parliament.
Inheriting the legacy from his father, who contested elections until 1988, Tolani has dutifully upheld the family tradition, participating in every electoral spectacle since 1989.
Undeterred by his modest resources and non-political background, the septuagenarian remains sanguine about his prospects in the upcoming assembly polls, having submitted his nomination as an autonomous candidate. For Tolani, hope remains the bedrock of his perseverance, embodying the adage that “hope is the last beacon in the darkest hour.”
Even the venerable Congress party finds itself grappling with the formidable presence of the autonomous candidate vying for the Indore Lok Sabha seat.
Though Tolani finds himself stripped of his security deposit, left with a mere Rs 20,000 in liquid funds and total assets valued at approximately Rs 20 lakh, his resolve remains unyielding.
“Election, akin to a relentless fever, refuses to abate. The two luminaries who have instilled in me the resolve to persist until success is attained are my father and the Chief Minister of Delhi, Arvind Kejriwal. I remain steadfast in my conviction that victory shall eventually be mine, regardless of the outcome,” affirms Tolani.
Tolani lays claim to securing the highest tally of votes amongst independent candidates in the Lok Sabha Election 2019. He asserts, “Even if the BJP candidate from Indore, Shankar Lalwani, were to contest independently, his support base would scarcely surpass 200 votes.”
