Agra, Uttar Pradesh: Hasnuram Ambedkari, affectionately known as ‘Dharti Pakad,’ is an indomitable 78-year-old political aspirant who embarked on his electoral journey in 1985. Despite enduring a staggering 98 defeats, he remains determined to submit his candidacy in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

Ambedkari, who makes a living as a worker under the MNREGA scheme, reveals his ambition to run for office a 100th time, after which he plans to retire from electoral contests. Originating from Kheragarh tehsil in Agra district, he first entered the political arena as an independent candidate in March 1985, challenging the Bahujan Samajwadi Party (BSP) candidate in the Kheragarh constituency.

On Friday, Ambedkari was poised to file his nomination for both the reserved Agra seat and the Fatehpur Sikri seat. His political career spans elections for various positions such as Gram Pradhan, state assembly, gram panchayat, MLA, MLC, and Lok Sabha. He even attempted to vie for the Indian presidency, though his bid was denied.

Ambedkari’s unwavering commitment to the electoral process has earned him the epithet ‘Dharti Pakad,’ a nod to another iconic figure, Kaka Joginder Singh ‘Dharti Pakad,’ who himself contested over 300 elections, including for president, without success.

When asked about his motivation, Ambedkari shared how he left his position as ‘Amin’ at the Agra tehsil in late 1984, believing he would receive a BSP ticket for the Kheragarh seat. However, the party convener withdrew the offer and ridiculed him, doubting even his wife’s support. This spurred Ambedkari to seek vindication by placing third in the election and setting out to prove his ability to secure votes.

A devoted follower of Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar and an active participant in the Backward and Minority Communities Employees’ Federation (BAMCEF) from 1977 to 1985, Ambedkari plans to file nominations for both seats on Monday. He will then seek the support of constituents through personal visits and handwritten appeals.

His wife, Shiva Devi (70), and their sons stand behind his electoral aspirations, both emotionally and financially. Ambedkari’s extensive family, including daughters-in-law, grandchildren, and daughters, support his campaign efforts.

Elections for the Agra and Fatehpur Sikri Lok Sabha seats are set to take place on May 7 during the third phase of the elections. The nomination period opened on April 12 and will close on April 19.