The Shikaripur assembly constituency has become cynosure of all eyes, as former Chief Ministers B S Yeddyurappa and S Bangarappa are expected to cross swords against each other during the Assembly polls.

Along with the titans, another candidate, who has unsuccessfully contested 89 elections, has filed his nomination papers from the constituency.

Dr K Padmarajan, a resident of Gonur in Salem district of Tamil Nadu has filed his nomination from Shikaripur assembly constituency on Tuesday. This is the 90th election for Dr Padmarajan, whose name features in the  Limca Book of Records, 2003 (claim ID 89503 and member number 83166) as the ‘most unsuccessful candidate.’ Dr Padmarajan is expecting his name to be entered into Guinness book of records too, and formalities in this regard are said to be on.

Dr Padmarajan was born in the year 1959 at Attur in Salem district. Currently, he is a practising homeopath in Gonur, and offers free medical treatment for the poor. Contesting elections is a passion for his homeopath, who has filed his nominations in various elections - ranging from that of the taluk housing society, to the post of President of India. He has ‘unsuccessfully’ contested against former Prime Ministers P V Narasimha Rao in the Nandhyal Lokasabha constituency (in 1991 and 1996), and against Atal Bihari Vajpayee in Lucknow constituency (2004).

Dr Padmarajan has also tested his fortune against former Chief Ministers J Jayalalithaa and M Karunanidhi in the assembly elections. He has also filed nominations for the post of President and Vice President of India in the years 1997, 2002 and 2007. Though the nominations were rejected, Dr Padmarajan is quite content with his record as an unsuccessful candidate.

Speaking to Deccan Herald, Dr Padmarajan said, “Election is an important process in democracy. The beauty of Indian democracy lies in the fact that an ordinary person can contest election and serve the people. My contesting in the election is to create public awareness in this regard,” he said.

Doubly elated

As it is Dr Padmarajan’s passion to contest against big names, he opted for the Shikaripur assembly constituency - which B S Yeddyurappa has represented 5 times in State assembly. Now, he is doubly elated, as another former chief minister, S Bangarappa, is also planning to contest from Shikaripur.

 The Karnataka Kolageri Nivasigala Sangha and Karnataka State Construction Workers’ Union have expressed their support. Dr Padmarajan has so far incurred Rs 5 lakh expenditure for contesting the elections.

When quizzed  on what would be his contribution to the people of Shikaripur if elected, Dr Padmarajan says, “I don’t want to win the elections as i want to improve the record as an unsuccessful candidate!”