Meet 78-year-old Rajasthan man, who has lost 20 elections since 1970s, gears up for another try
Teetar Singh, who is a member of the Dalit community, said he decided to contest elections for the first time in the 1970s.
78-year-old Teetar Singh, MGNREGS worker, has consistently entered elections in Rajasthan since the 1970s, never securing a win and forfeiting his deposit each time. Despite these setbacks, he remains undeterred, gearing up for another attempt in the upcoming November 25 assembly polls.
“Why should I not fight,” the Independent candidate in the fray for Karanpur assembly constituency replied on being asked why he was contesting even after having lost about 20 elections so far.
“The government should give land, facilities… this election is a fight for rights,” the daily wage labourer said, asserting that he does not contest the polls for popularity or records.
Mr. Singh claims that participating in elections is his tool to fight for his rights, a weapon whose sharpness hasn’t diminished with age.
The man in his seventies stated that he has entered every election, from local panchayat to national Lok Sabha polls, yet has met with defeat on every occasion. He further mentioned that he is gearing up once more with the same fervor and zeal, having submitted his nomination papers for the upcoming assembly election later this month.
Living in ’25 F’ village, Mr. Singh, belonging to the Dalit community, expressed that he chose to enter the political arena for the first time in the 1970s. His decision stemmed from the sense of deprivation he shared with people like him, particularly regarding land allotment in the canal command area.
Mr. Singh continued to participate in consecutive elections, yet his request for land allocation remained unmet. His sons also engage in daily wage labor to make ends meet.
Mr. Singh shared that he has three daughters, two sons, and even his grandchildren are married. Despite his family responsibilities, he possesses only ₹2,500 in cash as his deposit capital, lacking any land, property, or vehicles.
During regular days, Mr. Singh works as a daily wage laborer under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). However, when elections approach, he redirects his efforts towards campaigning for himself.
However, luck has never favoured him, and he has consistently lost, forfeiting his deposits each time. In the 2008 Rajasthan assembly elections, Mr. Singh garnered 938 votes, followed by 427 votes in the 2013 assembly elections, and 653 votes in the 2018 assembly polls.
