Dharti Pakar

{{Short description|Indian politician}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2025}}

{{Use Indian English|date=December 2015}}

Dharti Pakar (also spelt Dharti Pakad; transcribed as Dhartipakar and Dhartipakad as well) (etymology: Dharti = Earth; Pakar = Grasp: "One who clings on") is the nickname of at least three perennial candidates in India who contested unsuccessfully in several elections against top political leaders.

A satirical television show looking at the electoral politics was named Dharti Pakar after a man named Kaka Joginder Singh, whose nickname was Dharti Pakad. Mohan Lal, a cloth merchant from Bhopal, also had the nickname of Dharti Pakar for contesting elections against five different Prime Ministers and losing the deposit in all these elections.{{cite web |url=http://www.outlookindia.com/full.asp?fodname=20070507&fname=Cover+Story+%28F%29&sid=1&pn=2 |title=The Miracle That Is India |publisher=Outlookindia.com |accessdate=2012-02-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070505231300/http://www.outlookindia.com/full.asp?fodname=20070507 |archive-date=5 May 2007 |url-status=dead }} Nagarmal Bajoria is also known by the nickname of Dharti Pakar;{{cite web|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2004/20040328/nation.htm |title=The Tribune, Chandigarh, India – Nation |publisher=Tribuneindia.com |accessdate=2012-02-18}} he contested from over 278 constituencies and used donkeys for campaigning in an election.[http://in.news.yahoo.com/050210/43/2jis5.html ] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050913005959/http://in.news.yahoo.com/050210/43/2jis5.html |date=13 September 2005 }} There are others who have contested several elections (see [https://archive.today/20130125081728/http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/Guwahati/Lost-81-times-ready-to-take-on-PM/Article1-221372.aspx this] for example) unsuccessfully, but not necessarily known by the sobriquet.

Dharti Pakar is also a popular nickname in office politics referring to individuals who have no case for meaningful existence in the prevailing environment.