Kaka Joginder Singh

Kaka Joginder Singh (1918 in Gujranwala - December 23, 1998 in Bareilly) (alias Dharti Pakad meaning "one who clings to the ground") was a textile owner who contested and lost over 300 elections in India. [http://www.rediff.com/news/1998/feb/04kaka.htm The Evergreen Candidate] Rediff - February 4, 1998] [ [http://www.indiantelevision.com/special/y2k4/spoof.htm Uncorking the mirth] IndianTelevision - February 4, 2004]

Early life and career

He was born the 14th out of 16 children in Gujranwala (now in Pakistan) to Punjabi parents. He went to college and earned masters degrees in sociology and philosophy. Kaka earned his money through his family's textile mill in Bareilly. In elections, he always contested as an independent, and always lost.

Thoughts on his campaigns

Kaka looked at the security deposit which he has always lost as his 'humble contribution' to the national fund, and said he never campaigned or used money to earn support. The campaign donations for 1991 were Rs. 2500 and after 1997, the security deposit was raised to Rs. 15000. [http://www.tribuneindia.com/2002/20020617/nation.htm#1 Capt Sahgal creates history] The Tribune, Chandigarh - June 17, 2002]

His election promises included: repaying all foreign loans, more character building in schools, and bringing back the barter system as a panacea for the Indian economy.

Earning of "Dharti Pakad"

His nomination papers were usually disregarded by the election commissionand he earned the nickname Dharti Pakad (one who clings) after several unsuccessful runs for the President of India [ [http://www.hinduonnet.com/2004/05/03/stories/2004050301221300.htm POLL-POURRI] The Hindu - May 03, 2004] . The most prolific year for him was during the 1992 10th Presidential elections where he earned fourth place in the polling with 1135 votes, losing to Shankar Dayal Sharma. He also tried elections from 14 states of India in the 1990s , mostly for state assemblies.

Election efforts

*He earned 451 votes (0.23%) in the Ludhiana poll for 1982 [ [http://ceopunjab.nic.in/Punjabi/Elections/GE/GE1992/GE1992.pdf Ludhiana-82] Punjab Elections]
*He earned 1848 votes (0.33%) in the Ludhiana poll for 1985 [ [http://ceopunjab.nic.in/Punjabi/Elections/GE/GE1985/GE1985.pdf Ludhiana-85] - Punjab Elections]
*He earned 46 votes in the 1991 New Delhi elections [http://archive.eci.gov.in/elec91/states/U05/const01.htm 1.New Delhi(NATIONAL CAPITAL TERRITORY OF DELHI)] 1991 Election Commission of India]
*He was fourth in the polling for the Nandyal Lok Sabha election of 1991 with 1506 votes (.001%) [ [http://www.indiapress.org/election/archives/lok11/biodata/11ap25.php Biographical SketchMember of Parliament XI Lok Sabha] - IndiaPress]
*He was fourth in the polling for president in 1991 [ [http://pib.nic.in/archieve/others/pr.html BACKGROUNDER] - NIC Archives]
*He was eighth place in the polling for the Lucknow Lok Sabha elections of 1998, with 212 votes (0.02%) [ [http://pib.nic.in/election/gnelc99/ge98rslt/up-r98.pdf Results:Uttar Pradesh] - Govt of India Press Bureau]

Death

According to his family, Kaka was hospitalised after a paralysis attack on December 19, 1998. He died on December 23, 1998 from complications. [ [http://www.tribuneindia.com/1998/98dec24/nation.htm#8 Dhartipakar dead] TribuneIndia - December 24, 1998] Earlier in the year, he tried to contest elections against BJP leaders L.K. Advani and Atal Behari Vajpayee .

References