Agra: A 75-year-old ex-revenue staff is all set to contest his 94th election, as he filed his nomination on Friday for the Uttar Pradesh assembly polls.
Hasnuram Ambedkari, a former revenue department clerk, has already contested and lost 93 elections since 1985, the year he first entered the electoral fray.
Ambedkari told PTI that in 1985 he quit his job as an Amin’ in the district administration after he was promised a ticket from Fatehpur Sikri seat, the PTI reported.
But when the time came, the party refused to honour its end of the bargain and instead made fun of him, he said.
As I left my job, the party refused to give me the ticket and mocked me saying I would not be able to get a single vote in the election.
“After that I determined to contest the election independently to send them a message. I contested my first election from Fatehpur Sikri for the state assembly in the year 1985, he said, adding with pride that he came third .
“And since then I have been contesting every election despite knowing that I would lose. I have contested and lost 93 elections.”
Asked about his name, he said he is a follower of BR Ambedkar, India’s first law minister and a Dalit icon.
He said he was actively associated with the Backward and Minority Communities Employees’ Federation (BAMCEF) from 1977 to 1985.
Ambedkari said he has contested elections for gram pradhan, state assembly, gram panchayat, MLC, and Lok Sabha, and once went to the extent of applying for the post of President of India, but was rejected.
His determination to win despite losing 100 per cent of the times got him the moniker Dhartipakad’ in the area, which locals use to describe one’s adamancy.
“This year, I bought nomination papers for the Agra Rural and Kheragarh constituencies. I will contest till the 100th election even If I lose.”
Ambedkari said he meets people personally to appeal to them to vote for him, and even sends postcards to those living in distant areas.
The resident of Nagla Dulhe in Kheragarh tehsil said he is a farmer and also works under the MGNREGA scheme of the government to meet ends.
In elections I spend money from my savings for campaigning. My family also supports me. My wife Shiva Devi and five sons are always with me to fulfill my dream.
