Odisha man’s unusual fetish for defeat!

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, May 30:

It seems defeat acts as a dope for this Odisha doctor who has unsuccessfully contested elections on 30 occasions in the past. Undeterred by his past experiences, Dr K Shyam Babu Subudhi—a certified Homoeopath—has once again put up a benign challenge to the candidates for the upcoming election to the three vacant Rajya Sabha seats in the state to be held on June 11.

The octogenarian who has set a record of sorts has been contesting elections since 1957 and has been consistently losing his deposit in every election he has contested so far.

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.

Earlier, he unsuccessful contested 18 times for Lok Sabha, 10 times for Assembly and twice for Rajya Sabha. This is his third attempt to enter the Upper House of the Parliament.

Subudhi has crossed swords with several political heavyweights including former Prime Minister P V Narsimha Rao, former Odisha Chief Ministers Biju Patnaik and J B Patnaik in different polls.

He has been losing a deposit of Rs 10, 000 in every Assembly election and Rs 25, 000 in Lok Sabha elections.

Despite this, 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’s chances of winning the Rajya Sabha election is anybody’s guess. But one has to acknowledge the indomitable spirit and never-say-die attitude of this 80-year-old man.