For some, contesting elections may be a do or die situation but for K Shyambabu Subudhi, being in the poll fray is a hobby and passion. In spite of having lost 28 elections, including 10 assembly polls since 1957, the 84-year-old resident of Berhampur is all set to contest this year’s elections.
Undeterred by his past experiences, Shyambabu Subudhi has once again put up a benign challenge to the candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha Elections.
Subudhi plans to fight the Lok Sabha polls from the two seats in Ganjam district – Aska and Berhampur – as an Independent. He has contested nine times from these two Lok Sabha seats.
The homoeopathy doctor by profession, Subudhi has been contesting elections since 1957 and has been consistently losing his deposit in every election he has contested so far.
The octogenarian, once dubbed by the BBC as the ‘world’s biggest election loser’, says, “Taking part in elections is my one and only passion. Forget victory or defeat, I contest to win. One day, I hope the people will elect me as their representative.”
Subudhi took a plunge into the electoral fray as young as 26. His electoral debut came in 1957 when he battled former state Minister Brundaban Nayak from Berhampur Assembly segment. In 1962, he contested his maiden Lok Sabha election.
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Despite loosing each time, he has been throwing his hat in the rings to enter the power corridors. He claims that he can help establish a corruption-free government if voted to the House of Elders.
Subudhi has begun his campaign for the upcoming elections by distributing leaflets in crowded areas like stretches frequented by morning-walkers and in markets. He says he’ll keep contesting elections till his health permits.
