(Kashmir Rechords Exclusive)

It’s election season in Jammu and Kashmir, and along with the heat of political rallies, there’s a delightful breeze of humour wafting through the region. As the erstwhile State preps for its first Union Territory polls, voters are not just talking about candidates—they’re swapping stories about the quirky characters and legendary “contenders” from days gone by.

Let’s introduce you to one such gem: the famous `Sharabi Congress’, a party that, well, was less about policy and more about party! The general secretary of this, shall we say, spirited group was none other than Ram Swaroop Chaudhary, a journalist by profession and an election candidate by obsession.

Chronic Contestants

Now, here’s where it gets fun. Chaudhary, bless his dedication, was the type of candidate you couldn’t help but admire—even if his vote counts were the stuff of punchlines. He contested in everything from panchayat polls to Parliamentary elections, becoming a regular on the election scene. In fact, his relentless participation earned him the nickname “Chronic Contestant,” the man who seemed destined for the ballot, if not the victory podium. He  had a journalist counter-part from Kashmir, Mr P. N Kaul Vakil, who too had a distinction of contesting all elections from Kashmir, including the one held in 1987.

Records available with Kashmir Rechords reveal that Chaudhary contested elections from as early as 1983, when he tried his luck in the Jammu West constituency. In 1987, he made a bold strategic move and shifted to Jammu East, vying for an Assembly seat among 19 other hopefuls. But it wasn’t until the 1996 Parliamentary elections that Chaudhary truly made his mark—well, a small mark. He bagged an awe-inspiring 4,976 votes. To put that in perspective, in the 1987 Assembly polls, he managed to snag… drumroll… three whole votes! Hey, every vote counts, right?

Bottled Dreams

The cherry on top of this electoral cocktail was Chaudhary’s “bottle dream.” The man had his heart set on one symbol: a bottle. Every election, he’d approach the authorities, pleading for his permanent party symbol to be a bottle—his way of representing the drinking masses, or so he claimed. Unfortunately, his request was never met. He was every time granted different election symbol as an Independent Candidate.

According to noted Journalist, R C Ganjoo, Ram Swaroop’s  manifesto, too, was something straight out of an alternative universe. Among his bold promises? Lowering the drinking age to 18, providing a liquor tap for every family that wanted one, and setting up “drinking sheds” throughout his constituency. Visionary, right?

Now, while Chaudhary and his Sharabi Congress might have been the toast of J&K’s quirky political scene, they weren’t the only unique party in town. There was also Congress Tiwari—that  tried to make a splash in 1996 J&K elections too. Neither quite managed to leave an indelible mark, but their spirit of contesting never wavered.

To top it all off, Chaudhary had an equally eccentric group of supporters. One such supporter was an Editor of a Jammu-based newspaper “ Be Kafan Janaza’’. Not only did this editor offer complimentary space in his own publication, but he even paid for advertisements  in other newspapers.

 Dharti Pakads

Of course, J&K isn’t unique in producing chronic contestants. Every state in India has its very own “Dharti Pakkads”—those candidates who cling to the political landscape year after year, poll after poll. The term itself stems from a gentleman who famously filed papers for every possible election, including Presidential ones. Their determination, like Chaudhary’s, is as solid as the ground they stand on, even if their voter base is as shaky as their election results.

So, as the Union Territory heads to the polls, remember the unsung heroes of democracy—the candidates who never give up, no matter how many votes they get. Cheers to them, and especially to Ram Swaroop who will forever be remembered as the man who dreamt of a bottle on the ballot.