No copyright: Kerala candidates merrily pick similar names

Alappuzha, Apr 12 (UNI) There's nothing in a name, going by the Bard, but agitated election candidates in Kerala think different.

They are facing a challenge from rivals with similar names in the run-up to the Assembly elections, due later this month.

Repeating a 'strategy' that was allegedly used with telling effect by the Left Front during the last Lok Sabha elections in Alappuzha constituency, several candidates this time are again using the ploy of similar-sounding names to gain an edge over their rivals.

In the Alappuzha Lok Sabha poll, the LDF had backed independent candidate V S Sudheeran against Congress stalwart V M Sudheeran.

While the 'real' Sudheeran lost the election by a margin of just 1,000 votes, his namesake challenger grabbed more than 8,000 votes.

During the Assembly elections this time, both the UDF and the LDF have resorted to these tactics. Agriculture Minister K R Gowriamma is facing one Gowri in her constituency Aroor.

Several other leaders, Tourism Minister K C Venugopal, former MP T J Angelose, CPM state leader M A Baby and former ministers Kadavoor Sivadasan and G Karthikeyan are also facing the same name problem.

In neighbouring Ernakulam district too, many candidates, including Fisheries Minister Dominic Presentation (Pallurthy) and sitting MLAs K Babu (Tripunithura) and K Mohammadali (Aluva) are pitted against namesakes.

Disputes are landing at the doors of returning officers, who are directing candidates to add some other name like their house name or family name, to the ballot papers.

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